Nagpur: The investigation into the SBL factory blast case, which claimed 26 lives, has gathered pace after Kedar Arvind Panchputre, the company’s Safety Department Manager, surrendered before a Nagpur court in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions.

Panchputre appeared before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court after the Supreme Court ordered all accused to surrender within four days. The court remanded him to judicial custody.

However, 10 other accused, including the company’s owner and senior executives, remain absconding. Police teams have launched an extensive search across multiple states to trace them.

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Absconding Accused

The accused yet to surrender include:

Sanjay Chaudhary – Chairman & Owner
Alok Chaudhary – CEO
Ravindra Pokharna – Director
Shravan Kumar – Director
Satyavati Parashar – Director
Alok Avadhiya – Director
Manoj Kumar Prasad – Director
Mitin Chandanmal – Director
Atul Gupta – Director

Police teams have conducted raids at several locations in Raipur, but the key accused have not yet been traced.

Probe Points to Safety Lapses

The case stems from the March 1, 2026 explosion at the SBL explosives factory, one of Maharashtra’s deadliest industrial disasters, in which 26 workers lost their lives.

Investigators have already arrested 11 accused, all of whom remain in judicial custody.

The investigation has uncovered serious violations of mandatory safety norms at the factory. Reports submitted by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) and the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) have highlighted significant lapses in safety compliance, which are believed to have contributed to the devastating blast.

Police said the investigation is continuing, and efforts are underway to arrest the remaining accused at the earliest.