India
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CBI FIR names BHEL officials over 31.65 kg silver
The Indian Express··18 Sept
The CBI registered an FIR in July 2026 over 31.65 kg of silver missing from a BHEL Gurugram locker, valued at about Rs 71 lakh. A check on 06.02.2024 found 6.23 kg in the Godrej safe versus 35.6 kg on records. The FIR names head Bharat Kumar Pant and manager Ashish Kumar. It cites conspiracy and breach of trust.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Solar cell production audits may tighten if the case exposes weak locker controls.
- Public sector managers named in the FIR face corruption probes while remaining in post or corporate roles.
- MNRE-funded silver at the plant is taxpayer-backed inventory, so losses hit central programmes.
What's Happening
- Discrepancy surfaced during physical verification on February 6, 2024.
- Preliminary inquiry began February 26 before the July 8 FIR.
- Three other officials' roles were flagged for further review.
Silver stock at the Gurugram plant
- Records showed about 35.6 kg until 2016-17 and in audit observations until 2020.
- Officials gave contradictory statements on keys and verification, the complaint says.
- Silver targets feed photovoltaic manufacturing at the amorphous silicon plant.
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