MUMBAI: The government has suspended state run-Oil & Natural Gas Corporation’s technology and field services director Shashi Shanker after the ministry of petroleum & natural gas initiated a probe into his alleged involvement in irregularities in a tendering process.Shanker “committed gross misconduct while dealing with a tender for procurement of 21 blowout preventers,” a government release said. He could not be reached for comment.The suspension was ordered on Monday with immediate effect to ensure a fair and transparent inquiry, the government said.Shanker, 54, who was inducted in December 2012, is the youngest member on the board of the country’s largest oil exploration company. He has three decades of experience in activities related to oil and gas exploration and production, according to the ONGC website.A blowout preventer is a large valve or mechanical device that is used to seal the space between a pipe and an oil and gas well. Industry officials said an onshore blowout preventer typically costs Rs 5 crore apiece while the offshore device costs almost three times more.Shanker is credited with introducing the procurement of drilling bits — used to cut into rocks — on a consignment basis against the lowest-bid route that ONGC practised earlier. Industry sources speculated that he was found to be deliberately delaying certain tenders.The suspension comes amid an investigation into corporate espionage and subsequent crackdown on staff at various ministries and private companies. While Shanker’s suspension may not be linked to that probe, industry executives said it may be a part of the government’s effort to remove malpractices.