New Delhi (01.02.2026): When you’re at the helm of a Maharatna giant like SAIL, even a server error can feel like a corporate coup. A technical oversight on the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) website sent ripples through the corridors of power as the sudden disappearance of SAIL Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Amarendu Prakash’s name from the official portal triggered intense speculation.
The confusion, which dominated the final day of January, saw a flurry of "kite-flying" by observers and industry insiders. However, by evening, the rumours were laid to rest when the name was restored to the portal, confirming that the high-profile “vanishing act" was nothing more than a digital glitch, not an uncommon thing, which can occur anytime and anywhere.
Rumour Mill in Overdrive:
The incident highlights the volatile nature of administrative appointments in Maharatna PSUs. While Prakash’s credentials remained unchanged on the official Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) website throughout the day, the PESB’s digital database—often seen as the final word on board-level appointments—became the center of a storm.
For a few hours, the glitch provided fodder for Prakash’s critics, some of whom have periodically floated narratives regarding his premature exit. Conversely, the temporary omission caused a brief spell of dejection among his supporters, as newsrooms and social media circles buzzed with unverified claims of his ouster.
In the Eye of the Storm:
Amarendu Prakash has been facing pressure and has been in the eye of the storm for the last few weeks. Not surprising that he has been at the center of the rumour mill. Sources suggest that "vested interests" have occasionally attempted to cast shadows over his tenure. The technical lapse on the PESB portal merely provided a fresh, albeit brief, platform for these narratives to resurface.
By the time the sun set on Friday, the digital record was corrected, and it was business as usual at the SAIL headquarters. The episode, however, serves as a stark reminder of how a simple coding error can trigger a massive flutter in India’s corporate-bureaucratic circles.
