A Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) Foreman Grade-I was arrested in Chennai’s Guindy on October 21 for allegedly accepting a Rs 5 lakh bribe to facilitate an increase in the electricity load for a commercial building, according to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC).
The case followed a complaint by Sasikumar, a resident of Perambur, who had applied to the office of the TNPDCL Assistant Engineer in Guindy for an increase in sanctioned load from 5 KW to 49 KW. The additional load was sought for his commercial building.
According to the DVAC, Assistant Engineer Sathyamoorthy allegedly demanded Rs 5 lakh from Sasikumar for providing the additional load connection. The complainant reportedly refused to pay and approached the DVAC’s Chennai detachment, following which a case was registered and a trap operation was organised.
During the operation on Wednesday, Foreman Grade-I John De Brito allegedly demanded and accepted Rs 5 lakh from Sasikumar on the instructions of Sathyamoorthy, the DVAC said. De Brito was arrested in connection with the case.
The allegation concerns the processing of a higher electricity load, a routine but important approval for commercial premises that require additional power capacity for their operations. Such applications pass through the electricity distribution system and involve assessment and approval by officials responsible for the relevant service area.
The report identifies Sathyamoorthy as the Assistant Engineer who allegedly demanded the money and John De Brito as the foreman who allegedly received it during the trap. The DVAC has not been reported as having announced the final outcome of the investigation or any finding by a court.
Further action in the case is expected to follow, according to the report. The investigation will determine the roles of the officials named in the complaint and the trap operation, while the legal process will establish the allegations.
