HC Grants Anticipatory Bail to Three Directors, Denies Relief to Five Others The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Monday granted anticipatory bail to three accused in the deadly explosion at the SBL Energy Ltd plant in Raulgaon, Nagpur district, which killed at least 26 people. The court, presided over by Justice Rajnish Vyas, allowed pre-arrest bail applications for independent directors Ravindra Pokharna, Satyavati Parashar, and Manoj Kumar Prasad. However, it rejected similar relief for senior executives Kedar Pachputre, Alok Awasthi, Shravan Kumar, Alok Chaudhary, and Sanjay Chaudhary, citing the severity of the allegations and the material on record. The explosion occurred on March 1 and is considered one of the deadliest industrial accidents in recent years, prompting concerns about the enforcement of industrial safety norms at both state and national levels. During the hearing, the defense argued for protection from arrest, while the prosecution opposed the pleas, emphasizing the fatal consequences of negligence. The court evaluated the submissions and granted partial relief, allowing anticipatory bail to three applicants while declining it for the remaining five. Lawyers Amol Mardikar and Aditya Chaudhary represented the accused. According to police investigations, the company was allegedly in "serious violation of safety standards," a finding corroborated by reports from the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation. These reports highlighted multiple lapses, including the absence of risk assessments, inadequate firefighting systems, failure to appoint safety officers, and lack of proper training for workers. Authorities linked these deficiencies directly to the scale of the disaster.#bombay_high_court #nagpur_bench #raulgaon #sbl_energy_ltd #rajnish_vyas
Untrained Workers at SBL Energy Ltd Linked to Explosion That Killed 26, Police Tell Bombay High Court Nagpur: The Nagpur Rural Police have informed the Bombay High Court that untrained and unskilled workers were involved in handling hazardous chemicals at SBL Energy Ltd’s facility in Raulgaon (Katol taluka), where a devastating explosion on March 1 killed 26 people. The police submitted an affidavit to the court, detailing significant lapses in industrial safety protocols that may have contributed to the tragedy. The case is being heard by a division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode, which is examining a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by social activist Jammu Anand. The police affidavit, submitted by Superintendent of Police (Rural) Harssh Poddar, outlined multiple violations at the company. According to the document, SBL Energy Ltd failed to appoint the required two qualified safety officers and two medical officers, instead employing only one safety officer for a workforce of 809 employees. The report also revealed that only 183 workers had undergone mandatory medical examinations, leaving the majority of the staff without proper health assessments. Additionally, the company was found to have only a single ambulance available at the site, with no emergency medical equipment or trained personnel on standby. The production unit lacked a CCTV system, which could have provided critical footage of the incident. The explosion occurred on March 1, resulting in the immediate deaths of 17 women workers. The toll rose to 26 as more victims succumbed to their injuries during treatment. The police emphasized that the incident was not an isolated accident but a consequence of systemic negligence in adhering to safety regulations.#bombay_high_court #raulgaon #nagpur_rural_police #sbl_energy_ltd #jammu_anand
One more SBL worker dies, blast toll 26 Nagpur: Usha Balaji Rewatkar, 43, who sustained severe burns covering 60% of her body in the March 1 explosion at SBL Energy Limited’s facility in Raulgaon, passed away on Thursday during treatment at a private hospital. The incident has now resulted in 26 confirmed fatalities. Usha, the sole provider for her family, had been working as a laborer at the SBL plant to support her household and cover the educational expenses of her three daughters. Usha’s husband, Balaji, has been bedridden for the past decade due to paralysis below the waist. The family resides in Dudhala Kondhali, a village in Nagpur. Her eldest daughter, Himanshi, is currently in her third year of engineering studies. The middle daughter, Divya, is pursuing polytechnic education in Arvi, while the youngest, Vanshika, is preparing for her Class 12 exams. Usha’s death has left her family in a dire situation, with no immediate financial support to continue their education or manage daily expenses. The explosion at SBL Energy Limited’s Raulgaon site occurred in March, sparking widespread concern over workplace safety and the adequacy of emergency response measures. Authorities have yet to release detailed information about the cause of the blast or the number of injured workers. However, the incident has drawn attention to the risks faced by laborers in industrial settings and the urgent need for improved safety protocols. Local officials and community leaders have expressed condolences to Usha’s family, emphasizing the tragedy’s impact on the region. The case has also reignited discussions about labor rights and the responsibilities of companies operating in high-risk environments.#nagpur #raulgaon #usha_balaji_rewatkar #sbl_energy_limited #dudhala_kondhali
One more worker dies, SBL blast toll reaches 25 Nagpur: The death toll from the SBL Energy blast at Raulgaon in Katol taluka climbed to 25 after a 22-year-old woman succumbed to severe burn injuries on Sunday. Jyoti Dhurve, the deceased, had sustained approximately 65% burns in the explosion that occurred on March 1. She was receiving treatment at Orange City Hospital and Research Institute (OCHRI) before her passing. The initial blast killed 18 people on-site, and seven additional workers died later during medical care. A total of 19 injured female workers were admitted to OCHRI following the incident, with nine critically injured individuals still under treatment. Family sources revealed that Jyoti, originally from Talegaon, had been residing in a rented room in Katol with her brother Ajay, aged 19, while pursuing their education. Their parents, Renuka and Shamu, worked as manual laborers in Talegaon. Jyoti had left college after her first year to join SBL, aiming to support her brother’s education, according to family details. The explosion at the factory, which initially claimed 18 lives, has left the community in shock. The incident has raised concerns about workplace safety and the conditions faced by laborers in industrial settings. OCHRI has been overwhelmed with patients, highlighting the scale of the tragedy. Authorities are reportedly investigating the cause of the blast, though no official details have been released. The tragedy underscores the risks associated with industrial accidents and the vulnerability of workers in such environments. As the investigation unfolds, families of the victims are demanding accountability and improved safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.#sbl_energy #raulgaon #orange_city_hospital_and_research_institute #jyoti_dhurve #shamu
