In a significant development following the deadly explosion at a firecracker factory in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district, four senior administrative and police officials have been suspended for gross negligence of duty. The blast, which occurred on May 14, claimed the lives of five workers and left 25 others injured, several of them critically.
Administrative Action
The suspensions were ordered by Divisional Commissioner Asheesh Singh and Superintendent of Police Punit Gehlod under the MP Civil Services Rules. The officials suspended include Sanjeev Saxena, Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Tonkkhurd; Ravi Sharma, Naib Tehsildar of Chidawad; Deepa Mandve, Sub-Divisional Officer of Police of Sonkatch; and Ramandeep Hundal, Chouki In-charge of Tonkkala. The suspension orders cited their failure to conduct mandatory monthly administrative inspections of explosive units.
According to reports, the factory was hoarding gunpowder and commercial explosives far exceeding its permitted license capacity, while operating without basic safety infrastructure. The suspended officials will remain attached to the Dewas Collectorate during the inquiry period.
Fifth Accused Named
Dewas SP Punit Gehlod informed the Times of India that Mukesh Viz, a businessman from Delhi's Janakpuri, has been named as the fifth accused in the case. Three police teams have been dispatched to Delhi to locate and arrest Viz. According to senior police officials, Viz allegedly rented a warehouse located 300 meters from the primary blast site to package illegal firecrackers. Law enforcement seized a large stockpile of finished explosives, raw materials, and packaging wrappers from this location. Fire tenders neutralized the seized materials on-site using water sprays.
Background of Factory Owner
Intelligence sources revealed that the licensed owner of the factory, Anil Malviya, was registered on the Below Poverty Line (BPL) list until seven months ago and received subsidized rations. Authorities suspect Malviya acted as a proxy or frontman, while Viz was the actual financier and operator of the unit. For further interrogation, Dewas police have sought remand of Malviya and another co-accused, Aajas Khan, who are currently in jail under the National Security Act (NSA).
Judicial Probe Ordered
The state government has ordered a judicial probe into the tragedy under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952. Retired High Court Justice Subhash Kakade has been appointed as the single-member commission to investigate the incident and submit a report within a month. Additionally, Dewas Collector Rituraj Singh has formed a specialized technical team comprising the superintending engineer of the Electricity department, the regional officer of the Pollution Control Board, and the deputy director of Industrial Health and Safety. The factory premises have been sealed, and teams from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) have gathered chemical samples for analysis.
Condition of Injured Workers
The medical status of the injured laborers, mostly migrant workers from Bihar, remains highly critical. Three patients with 99% chemical burns are under round-the-clock observation at Amaltas Hospital in Dewas. Doctors stated that these victims suffered dry chemical burns and internal inhalation injuries, which can cause severe lung damage, hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells), and rapid kidney failure. Three other victims with over 80% burns are undergoing treatment at MY Hospital in Indore. Dr. Ashok Yadav, superintendent of MY Hospital, said these patients require intensive monitoring to manage severe dehydration, respiratory tract damage, and high risks of secondary infections due to the loss of skin protective layers. One additional patient with severe head injuries, however, was reported to be in stable condition.
