MUMBAI – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Mumbai, has registered a Regular Case against a Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) employee of the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) and several middlemen for allegedly running a bribery racket related to certification exams.
The FIR, numbered RC0262026A0002, was filed on January 9, 2026, under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 .
The Accused
The investigation names the following individuals as primary suspects :
- Sh. Devendra Lokhande: Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS), PESO, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai.
- Sh. Prakash Kene: A PESO Consultant acting as a middleman.
- Sh. Abhijit Darade: A private individual involved in bribing for license renewals.
- Sh. Santosh Bhalerao: A private individual and relative of Devendra Lokhande, whose bank account was used to receive bribe money.
- Unknown PESO Officials: Senior officials suspected of being part of the conspiracy.
The “Shot Firer” Exam Scam
According to the FIR, the racket revolved around the Shot Firer Exam, a mandatory certification test conducted by PESO for individuals handling explosive materials in mining and construction.
- Manipulating Results: Following an exam held on October 6, 2025, Devendra Lokhande allegedly contacted consultant Prakash Kene to obtain a list of “favorable” candidates. Kene provided six names, which Lokhande claimed to have presented to a senior PESO official to ensure their success.
- Bribery Negotiations: Communications revealed that bribe amounts were negotiated, with one instance showing a fee being reduced from ₹40,000 to ₹30,000 per candidate.
- License Renewals: The accused were also involved in taking bribes for the renewal of Shot Firer licenses. Abhijit Darade reportedly negotiated a payment of ₹30,000 for the renewal of three licenses.
The Money Trail
The CBI investigation uncovered a systematic use of digital payments to hide the illegal gratification. Bribe money was not paid directly to the public servant but was instead routed through the bank account of Lokhande’s relative, Santosh Bhalerao.
More Read
- UPI Transactions: On October 16, 2025, Abhijit Darade transferred ₹30,000 to Bhalerao’s SBI account via UPI.
- Subsequent Payments: Additional transactions of ₹20,000 and ₹25,000 were recorded in October and November 2025, sent via GPay and UPI by various individuals on Lokhande’s instructions .
Official Action
The case was registered following reliable source information. The FIR cites multiple counts of Criminal Conspiracy and Public Servant being bribed.
Superintendent of Police B. B. Chakravarty has authorized the registration of the case, and the investigation has been entrusted to Sh. Pravin Swami, Inspector of Police, CBI, ACB, Mumbai. The CBI is now investigating the extent of the racket and the involvement of higher-ranking officials within PESO.