Two employees of the Bhilai Steel Plant, including the general manager, have been arrested in Chhattisgarh’s Durg district for their alleged involvement in an organized scrap iron theft operation, which police said had been operating inside the plant for the past four to five months. With the recent arrests, the total number of those arrested in the case rises to 15 people.
The arrested BSP employees have been identified as Himanshu Bhushan Malik (54), general manager of SMS-3, and Manoj Kumar Devangan (58), assistant engineer of SMS-3.
“Investigation revealed that scrap iron belonging to BSP was being systematically stolen while transporting chimney dust. It was an organized operation and we are investigating the role of every person involved in the movement and handling of the material,” Durg Police Inspector Vijay Agarwal said.
An officer said more arrests could be made in the next few days as the investigation into the alleged network continues.
The case came to light on May 26 after Durg police received information about suspected illegal storage of BSP scrap at AK dealers at Aklurdiyah Khadanpara in Hathkhoj Industrial Area in Bhilai.
A police team searched the building and found iron sheets, beams and metal pieces mixed with chimney dust from several Hyva trucks and other vehicles. Large quantities of scrap iron were also found stored in separate piles in the building.
According to police officers, the accused allegedly used flue dust transport from the steel plant to transport scrap iron outside the BSP headquarters. The scrap was later separated from dust, stored at AK Traders and sold for financial gain.
Police said the alleged racket had been operating for the past four to five months in a planned manner.
During the search, about 250 tons of iron sheets, beams and other cut iron materials were found, worth an estimated $90,000 were seized. The police also seized several trucks, Hyva vehicles, a JCB, a Hydra crane, a chain-mounted machine and five machines allegedly used for filtering flue dust and separating ferrous materials.
The total value of the seized scrap, vehicles and machinery was estimated at approximately $3.22 Crores.
Thirteen people were arrested before two BSP employees were detained. Further examination of the evidence and the alleged movement of the items led investigators to two BSP employees, police said.
“Evidence collected during the investigation indicated the involvement of two BSP employees, following which they were arrested. The investigation is still ongoing and more people may be arrested in the next few days if their involvement is proven,” Agarwal said.
Police said teams are searching for other suspects and investigating the wider network allegedly involved in the theft and illegal disposal of BSP scrap.
