31.65 Kg Silver Missing from BHEL Solar Plant; CBI Books 2 Officials
Physical verification exposes a ₹71 lakh inventory gap after years of silver being reflected in BHEL’s records
A 31.65-kg silver discrepancy worth around ₹71 lakh at Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited’s (BHEL) Amorphous Silicon Solar Cell Plant in Gurugram has led to a CBI case against two company officials.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered an FIR on July 8, 2026, after a physical stock verification at the plant revealed a substantial gap between the silver recorded in BHEL’s books and the quantity actually available.
The discrepancy dates back to records maintained for the solar cell plant, where 35.6 kg of silver targets and recyclable silver linked to assets funded by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had been reflected in records.
However, during a physical stock check conducted on February 6, 2024, officials found only 6.23 kg of silver inside a Godrej safe.
The stock comprised 3.98 kg of silver targets and 2.25 kg of silver scrap.
That left 31.65 kg of silver unaccounted for.
Silver Remained in Records Despite Physical Shortfall
According to the details cited in the case, the 35.6-kg silver inventory figure continued to appear in records and audit documentation up to 2020, raising questions over how the substantial shortfall remained undetected until the physical verification.
The CBI subsequently conducted a preliminary inquiry, which was completed on February 26, 2026.
The agency found prima facie evidence against two BHEL officials and proceeded to register the FIR.
Two BHEL Officials Named
The officials named in the CBI case are:
- Dr Bharat Kumar Pant, Additional General Manager and head of BHEL’s Gurugram plant, who continues to hold the position.
- Ashish Kumar, then Manager and in-charge of Material Management at the plant, who is now posted at BHEL’s corporate office in Delhi.
The CBI has also directed examination of the roles of three other officials:
- Ajay Yadav, then Finance & HR Manager and now Joint General Manager (Finance) at Noida Metro.
- Vinayan Bhardwaj, now posted at BHEL’s corporate office in Delhi.
- Ajai Kumar, also now posted at BHEL’s corporate office in Delhi.
The examination of their roles does not, by itself, mean that they have been accused or charged in the FIR.
CBI Invokes Conspiracy and Criminal Breach of Trust Provisions
The case has been registered under Section 120-B of the IPC relating to criminal conspiracy, Section 201 relating to causing disappearance of evidence, and Section 409 relating to criminal breach of trust by a public servant.
The CBI has also invoked Section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The central question for the investigation is how 31.65 kg of silver, valued at around ₹71 lakh, went missing from the physical inventory while the larger stock figure continued to be reflected in official records and audit documentation.
The investigation is expected to examine the custody and movement of the silver, inventory records, audit trails, material-management procedures and the role of officials responsible for maintaining and verifying the stock.
