Bhilai Steel Plant management booked for negligence after worker’s death

• FIR lodged under IPC Section 304A after post-mortem report
• Contract worker died in 2022 accident inside SMS-2 converter shop
• Probe may bring executive director, senior GMs, AGMs and managers under scanner

Bhilai : Three years after the tragic death of a contract worker inside the Bhilai Steel Plant, police have registered a case of negligence against the plant management under Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The development, triggered by post-mortem findings and subsequent review of the inquiry papers, has sent shockwaves across the plant’s administration.

According to senior police officers, Bhatti Police Station has taken up Crime No. 126/2025 under Section 304A, holding that negligence on part of the Bhilai Steel Plant management was a key factor in the fatal incident. Officials indicated that action could follow against several senior officers of the plant, including the executive director, chief general managers, assistant general managers, and managers directly linked with the unit.

Records show that the incident dates back to June 9, 2022, when contract worker Arjun Sahu, 42, son of Punu Sahu and resident of Joratarai in Durg district, was on duty at SMS-2 converter shop. Around 2:30 pm, a transmission chain from the drive sprocket of Converter A suddenly collapsed on him, causing grievous head injuries. He was rushed to the Main Medical Post at B.S.P. Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

At the time, a merg intimation under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code was registered as Merg No. 23/2022, and statements of co-workers including Amar Das, Dhaniram Banjare and Kunjlal Baghel were recorded. The post-mortem confirmed severe head trauma as the cause of death.

The recent re-examination of records, combined with witness testimonies, established that the accident occurred due to lapses and unsafe working conditions attributable to plant management. Based on this, police have now concluded that criminal negligence was evident.

“The case has been registered after careful scrutiny of the post-mortem report and inquiry records. The role of senior officials of Bhilai Steel Plant is under investigation and accountability will be fixed,” averred a senior police officer on Saturday.