Will appointment of Natarajan be challenged in court à la Suresh as CMD, MOIL?
No sooner was a petition by MOIL Janshakti Mazdoor Sangh, Balaghat challenging the appointment of V Suresh as CMD, MOIL allegedly facing corruption charge, filed in Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court than speculation fuelled that the appointment of T N Natarajan as Director (Commercial) of SAIL can also be challenged as similar corruption charges against him pending.
A case history
On January 10, 2024, Lokpal pronounced an order in the complaints pertaining to sale of steel products by SAIL to Venkatesh Infra Projects P Ltd; Avon Steel Industries P Ltd and Hi-Tech Pipes (Group).
While handing over the cases of Venkatesh Infra Projects P Ltd and Avon Steel Industries P Ltd to CBI for detailed investigations, LOKPAL made scathing remarks on the functioning of SAIL and directed SAIL to formulate a clear and unambiguous policy with regard to MOU, pricing and relaxation.
https://lokpalonline.gov.in/lokpalonline/cdn/web_upload/CN73,74and752023_1705052862.pdf
One can take SAIL out of FAKE Projects but not FAKE Projects out of SAIL
So much water has flown in the river of SAIL PROJECT SCAM but FAKE Projects remained ‘Bread and Butter’ for the SAIL officials. SAIL management, senior functionaries of SAIL/CMO, Vigilance department of SAIL, Internal Audit department of SAIL, Ministry of Steel, Government and Independent Directors on SAIL Board, all remained in their comfort zones and nobody took any action to completely stop these sales and save SAIL from further losses. It would not be out of place to assume that they all are in cahoots with FAKE Projects.
Fake Projects are so deeply ingrained in the SAIL system that even LOKPAL’s order and 29 subsequent suspensions could not eliminate them. SAIL again managed to sell over 1,10,000 T of steel to FAKE Projects from Jan 2024 to Nov 2024.
How big is this crime? We leave it to the judgement of our erudite readers. How did SAIL management, senior functionaries of SAIL/CMO, Vigilance department of SAIL, Internal Audit department of SAIL, Ministry of Steel, Government and Independent Directors on SAIL Board allowed it to happen?
If instead of burying the first FAKE Project complaint on Venkatesh Infra Projects P Ltd and suspending the Whistle Blower, had strict action been taken, things would have not gone so far and SAIL could have been saved from further losses which are estimated to the tune of Rs 150 to 200 Crores. Who will compensate SAIL for this?
Whistle Blower Banished & Honours bestowed upon tainted officers
After LOKPAL’s order dated Jan 10, 2024, among the four regions of SAIL-CMO, Western Region under its Regional Manager T N Natrajan sold the maximum to FAKE Projects. Western Region also sold about 50,000 Tonne to FAKE Projects during July to Dec 2023 under the same Regional Manager. Despite knowing all his unscrupulous and dishonest acts, he was selected as Director (Commercial) of SAIL by the Search-cum-Selection Committee (SCSC) under the Ministry of Steel. Going ahead his name was also sent to ACC for approval and ultimately, he assumed the charge on March 20, 2026.
The way the Ministry rewarded Natarajan for dumping the Lokpal’s order, on assuming charge of Director (Commercial) he also started rewarding members of his syndicate who actively participated in the process of selling steel to the FAKE Projects in the Western Region.
https://www.bureaugram.com/news/ministry-rewards-natarajan-for-dumping-lokpals-order
In a similar case, it has been gathered that recently a petition has been filed by MOIL JANSHAKTI MAZDOOR SANGH BALAGHAT in the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court challenging the appointment of V Suresh as CMD-MOIL due to the pending CBI inquiry. Sales to Venkatesh Infra Projects P Ltd and Avon Steel Industries P Ltd had happened in the Northern Region of SAIL-CMO and being Regional Manager of Northern Region of SAIL-CMO, Suresh was actively involved in the sales to them. He was also suspended on Jan 19, 2024 after the Lokpal’s order dated Jan 10, 2024 and suspension was revoked on Jun 28, 2024, pending CBI inquiry. The salary difference for the suspension period is still not paid to him.
It is noteworthy that, Suresh, under whose Regional Managership the game was being played particularly with Avon Steel Industries P Ltd was the Branch Manager of Ludhiana from 2003 to 2007, and hence was fully aware of the business dynamics of Narrow Width HR Coils and the conversion economics of converting SWR14 blooms to Narrow Width HR Coils. Moreover, he having worked as Branch Manager of Faridabad was also aware of the business dynamics of SKELP, a product similar to Avon’s narrow width HR Coils, used to be produced by SAIL till 2014.
Apart from supplies of SWR14 blooms to Avon Steel Industries P Ltd, Northern Region was also instrumental in supplying about 1,00,000 Tonne of Steel to various FAKE Projects under his Regional-Managership.
It is again noteworthy that ex-Chairman SAIL Soma Mondal was among the Members of PESB who selected Suresh for the post of CMD-MOIL and Secretary Steel was also present on VC. By virtue of Soma being alleged in the same CBI cases which are still going on, the selection raises many question marks and ACC approval many more. It was under Directorship of Soma only, the alleged transactions with the above two firms had taken place in SAIL. Bureaugram.com feels that given the background of Suresh, forwarding his application for the post of CMD MOIL by Secretary Steel to PESB is in itself unethical and unprincipled.
Following the same unethical and unprincipled approach, Secretary Steel got the honest Whistle Blower Rajeev Bhatia thrown out of SAIL.
Ministry of Steel - Different yardsticks for different persons?
The name of an honest candidate, S Sakthimani was recommended for the post of CMD, RINL by PESB on September 3, 2024. However, the same Secretary Steel never forwarded his name for the ACC approval citing some arbitrary vigilance angle. Subsequently, Sakthimani was again recommended for CMD-FACT on October 3, 2025. This time since the issue was not in the hands of Secretary Steel but with the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Sakthimani’s name was not only forwarded but ACC approval was also received. He joined as CMD-FACT on February 2, 2026.
The ministry is being run by a secretary who is totally autocratic and dictatorial where principles, ethics, morality, rule of law, equality, fairness, honesty, etc have no place at all. To know about the secretary, one must read ‘Steel Secretary bent on downsizing 35% manpower in SAIL by invoking FR56(j)’
(The above article has been written based on extensive research and inputs from various sources including sources from SAIL)
Must Read the connected stories:
Will Natrajan get approval of ACC as Suresh obtained for CMD MOIL?
https://www.bureaugram.com/news/will-natarajan-get-acc-approval-as-suresh-obtained-for-cmd-moil
Rs 370 CR transferred to Avon by SAIL in the form of excess discounts
Steel Ministry picks two tainted faces on board
https://www.bureaugram.com/news/steel-ministry-picks-two-tainted-faces-on-boards
Does Steel Secretary Cover up Rampant Corruption
https://www.bureaugram.com/news/does-steel-secretary-cover-up-rampant-corruption
Corruption in SAIL: Role of Steel Secretary under scanner
https://www.bureaugram.com/news/corruption-in-sail-role-of-steel-secretary-under-scanner
