PSPCL suspends 3 officials for ₹4-crore fraud in Raikot
Besides the AAE Chhinder Pal Singh, junior engineer Daljit Singh and a lineman Ajit Pal Singh have also been suspended by the Central Zone of the PSPCL
The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) on Thursday suspended three officials, including an additional assistant engineer (AAE), in Raikot sub division for allegedly embezzling material worth a whopping ₹4 crore, including wires and conductors, and providing illegal power connections.
Besides the AAE Chhinder Pal Singh, junior engineer Daljit Singh and a lineman Ajit Pal Singh have also been suspended by the Central Zone of the PSPCL. The power regulator has also marked an inquiry against the three.
As per preliminary investigations, the officials defrauded the power regulator over a period of two years.
Investigations into the case revealed that a temporary connection of 10 KW was running in the name of Varun Bansal for an under-construction cinema hall in Raikot sub division.
Following a complaint regarding the illegal connection in Raikot subdivision, it was found that a low tension (LT) cable measuring 270 metres of PSPCL mark was being used for which no money was deposited for this outgoing cable to the concerned sub division.
After the matter came to light, the cable was removed and the concerned JE denied any information and stated that the concerned cable was not provided by him to the consumer.
On further inquiry, it came to light that the cable was provided by lineman Ajitpal Singh of adjacent subdivision Bassian who paid ₹7,000 for two months till he got regular connection and also produced an affidavit in this regard.
On the basis of inquiry, further investigation of Bassian subdivision was conducted and it was found that the material was drawn by JE Daljit Singh.
It was then found that material worth a whopping ₹4 crore has been drawn for domestic connections totaling 700 for a period of 24 months from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022. According to PSPCL officials, the amount of material drawn for connections in this period on an average amounts to ₹25 to ₹30 lakh.
The material drawn included 578 kilometres of ACSR (aluminium conductor steel reinforced) in which 500 kilometres was for connections alone. In addition, cables measuring 20 kilometres and 135 kilometres were also drawn from outlet in Jagraon.
A senior official of PSPCL stated that they are further investigating into the details of all 700 connections provided over a period of two years by the suspended officials and further action will be taken accordingly.
Earlier this week, the PSPCL had suspended four employees, including three JEs and one consumer clerk, for sanctioning 10 illegal connections in Sunny Estate of Khasi Kalan.