3 more PESO officials under CBI’s scanner

Staff reporter

In the wake of arrest of two high-ranking officials from the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO) on charges of accepting bribes, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Nagpur has expanded its scrutiny as it is suspecting the involvement of more senior officials in corrupt practices. PESO, headquartered in Nagpur, operates through a network of nine Circle offices and 14 Sub-circle offices, overseeing safety in the manufacturing, storage, transport, and handling of explosives, petroleum, compressed gases, and other hazardous substances and issuing licenses accordingly. The role of officials stationed at the Nagpur headquarters is suspected in the approval, granting, amendment, renewal, and other processes related to various licenses.

According to sources, the CBI has initiated an investigation into the roles of two top-ranking and a junior officer, in addition to the officers in custody Ashok Kumar Dalela and Vivek Kumar, both Deputy Chief Controllers of Explosives at PESO. They were apprehended on Thursday in connection with alleged bribe acceptance facilitated by Priyadarshan Dinkar Deshpande, a private person, acting on behalf of these PESO officials. Devi Singh Kachhawaha, the Director of M/s Super Shivshakti Chemical Pvt Ltd in Rajasthan, was the entity offering the bribes. Insiders alleged that Dalela and Kumar were operating a corruption racket with the tacit approval of some senior officials within PESO. The CBI is anticipated to quiz these senior officials, as on Friday, officials were in the process of compiling a list of evidences based on the information revealed by the accused during questioning.

It is noteworthy that the CBI received substantial information about alleged malpractices within PESO which led to the seizure of Rs 10 lakh in cash. Deshpande, acting as an intermediary, conspired with PESO officials to expedite the approval of an application submitted by Kachhawaha, allegedly in exchange for bribes. The firm sought to maximise its electronic detonator manufacturing capacity up to 75 per cent by March 2024, and the accused PESO officers purportedly facilitated this by expediting the pending work for the company through Kachhawaha.

Deshpande, a collection agent ?

During investigation of CBI, it came to light that Deshpande allegedly served as a collection agent for Dalela, Kumar and their accomplices for several years. He regularly hosted parties for these officials to gain their trust and would visit the PESO office at Seminary Hills, allegedly acting on the directives of the corrupt officials.

Negotiations for bribes with private company officials were reportedly conducted through Deshpande. After collecting the bribes, he submitted them either at the officials' residences or at a typing shop designated for such transactions. The CBI seized Rs 1.25 crore from Deshpande’s flat in Lake View Apartment, Hingna T-Point.