đź“Ť What Happened in the Accident
The incident occurred on 25 April 2023 at the SMS-2 section of the Bhilai Steel Plant during pipe-shifting work.
- A welding spark fell into the boots of a contract worker named Ranjit Singh.
- A nearby oxygen supply caused the fire to spread rapidly, severely burning him.
- Singh was admitted to Sector-9 Hospital, where he later died from his injuries on 9 May 2023. Another supervisor was also seriously injured in the incident.
đź“‹ Court Changed Charges to IPC Section 304
Initially, the police had registered the case under Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which applies to causing death by negligence. However, a court has now removed Section 304A and ordered that the case be tried under Section 304 IPC instead.
Here’s what that means legally:
- Section 304A IPC is applied when death occurs due to negligent acts without intent.
- Section 304 IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) is a more serious charge than 304A and can involve gross negligence or reckless conduct that could foreseeably lead to death or serious injury.
So by moving the case to Section 304, the court is indicating there may be evidence that the defendants’ conduct involved more than ordinary negligence, warranting a formal criminal trial.
👩‍⚖️ Who Is Now Accused
The court ordered that the trial under Section 304 proceed in Sessions Court, and directed the accused to appear on 2 February 2026. The accused include:
- Factory Manager – Sushant Kumar Ghoshal
- Safety General Manager (SMS-2) – Gaurav Singhal
- Safety In-Charge (Mechanical) – Dhirendra Kumar Kushwaha
- Contractor from Maruti Construction – Abhay Kumar Bartalwar
⚖️ Why This Matters
The shift from Section 304A to Section 304 is significant because:
- Trials under Section 304 IPC are considered more serious criminal proceedings and can carry heavier penalties compared to Section 304A.
- It reflects the court’s view that there may be sufficient evidence of gross negligence or reckless conduct by those responsible.
- The case is now being pursued in a higher court (Sessions Court), indicating legal escalation.
