Nagpur: In a stern and uncompromising order, the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has refused to grant interim bail to six senior officials accused in the devastating SBL Energy blast case, underlining that the loss of 26 workers’ lives is too grave to warrant any leniency at this stage.
Justice M M Nerlikar made it clear that the magnitude of the tragedy and the serious allegations of negligence demand strict judicial scrutiny. “Such a serious incident involving multiple deaths cannot be taken lightly,” the court observed, firmly rejecting pleas for relief.
Gold Rate
Apr 21 2026 - Time 10.30Hrs
The accused, Directors Ravi Kamra and Rakesh Tiwari, Vice President Chandrashekhar Rajwad, Senior General Manager Sandeep Solanki, General Manager Pradeep Sharma, and Supervisor Vilas Malwe, had earlier been denied bail by the Sessions Court. Their attempt to secure relief from the High Court also failed, with the court upholding the lower court’s decision.
The case stems from a catastrophic explosion at SBL Energy in Raulgaon village of Kalmeshwar tehsil, which turned fatal for 26 workers. The incident has raised serious questions over industrial safety and accountability at the highest levels of the company.
According to Kalmeshwar Police, offences have been registered against 32 individuals under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including culpable homicide and negligent conduct with respect to hazardous materials.
Crucially, reports by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) and the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) have exposed glaring violations of safety norms in the handling of explosive substances. Investigators suspect that senior management was fully aware of the risks but failed to act, allowing dangerous conditions to persist.
The court noted that the exact role of each accused and the extent of alleged negligence require a thorough and unhindered investigation, making bail inappropriate at this juncture.
However, in the same hearing, the High Court granted relief to five other accused, Pankaj Pandey, Neelkamal Dongre, Roshan Raut, Rajendrakumar Pardhi, and Sudhakar Uparakar, observing that, at present, there is insufficient evidence directly linking them to the incident.
The ruling sends a strong message that accountability cannot be diluted in cases where lapses cost human lives, and that those at the helm will be held answerable.
