Central agency files case against two officials after over thirty kilograms of silver vanishes from Gurugram manufacturing unit The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case regarding the disappearance of more than thirty kilograms of silver from a public sector solar cell plant in Gurugram. A major discrepancy involving the disappearance of precious metal from a public sector manufacturing facility has come to light in Gurugram. The solar cell unit operated by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited uses silver during the manufacturing process, and a massive shortfall in the inventory has triggered a formal investigation by the central anti-corruption agency. Authorities have named two specific officials in the initial police report. The staggering gap between records and physical stock has raised serious questions regarding the internal monitoring mechanisms of the organization. According to official documents, the facility maintained a stock of roughly 35.6 kilograms of silver between 2016 and 2020. This material was stored in the form of silver targets and recyclable scrap. However, when a physical inspection was conducted on February 6, 2024, only 6.23 kilograms of the metal remained in the secure locker, leaving a massive unexplained deficit of 31.65 kilograms. Investigators estimate the value of the missing material to be around 71 lakh rupees. The inquiry further revealed that annual physical verifications of the vault were regularly conducted until 2018. According to agency findings, regular inspections stopped after Dr. Bharat Kumar Pant took charge as the head of the plant in 2019. While the stock continued to reflect on paper, physical checks were neglected, which investigators believe allowed the material to be siphoned off gradually over an extended period without detection. Preliminary findings indicate not just a shortage of the material, but also missing inventory verification reports and stock registers for several years. The facility lacked a proper system to record the consumption, movement, and security of the precious metal. Investigators note that this laxity in oversight created an environment where material could be removed without proper authorization. A crucial turning point in the timeline involves an inspection conducted on March 31, 2022. Records from that period confirmed the presence of the entire 35.6 kilograms of silver, which was subsequently placed under the watch of the material management section. However, when the vault was opened during the February 2024 check, only a fraction of the inventory was recovered. The agency has named Ashish Kumar, the then manager and in-charge of the material management section, along with additional general manager and plant head Dr. Bharat Kumar Pant, in the formal complaint. Three other personnel are also facing scrutiny, including finance and human resource manager Ajay Yadav, manager Vinayan Bhardwaj, and engineer Ajay Kumar. Officials stated that statements provided by these individuals contained several contradictions regarding key possession and record availability. The formal charges invoked in the case include criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence, criminal breach of trust by a public servant, and provisions under the prevention of corruption act. The matter is currently under active investigation, and the final determination of guilt will depend on the judicial proceedings conducted before a court of law. What this means for you This incident raises serious concerns about asset security and internal audit mechanisms within public sector undertakings, highlighting the need for administrative reforms. • Across India: Rules regarding inventory maintenance and physical verification in state-owned enterprises may face stricter enforcement. • In Gurugram: Local industrial units and government manufacturing plants could experience renewed scrutiny of their security and stock management systems. Why this happened This situation unfolded due to a lapse in regular physical verification of stock and vulnerabilities in internal monitoring mechanisms. Inconsistencies in record-keeping and a lack of oversight allowed the discrepancies to persist. • Lack of physical verification: Routine checks of the vault inventory were halted after 2019, allowing the shortage to remain undetected for years. • Weak internal oversight: The facility lacked proper recording systems for tracking the movement and consumption of the precious metal. • Missing documentation: The unavailability of inventory verification reports and stock registers for multiple years facilitated the unchecked accumulation of discrepancies. Questions & Answers 1. Which company is involved in this incident? This incident involves the solar cell manufacturing plant of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited located in Gurugram. 2. What is the exact quantity of missing silver? Records indicate that approximately 31.65 kilograms of silver valued at around 71 lakh rupees is missing. 3. When was the discrepancy first discovered? The shortage came to light during a physical verification conducted on February 6, 2024. 4. Which officials have been named in the case? The investigative agency has named Ashish Kumar and Dr. Bharat Kumar Pant in the formal report. 5. Which agency is handling the investigation? The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case and is conducting the inquiry. https://trendkia.com/en/haryana/gurugram-ki-sarkari-company-se-gayab-hui-31-kilo-se-adhik-chandi-kendriya-jaanch-bureau-ne-do-adhikariyon-par-darj-ki-prathmikhi-33119 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.