Badal orders probe into power theft by SDM complex building

A day after the matter of an open power theft - use of 'kundi' connection - for over a year by the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) complex building at Dera Baba Nanak was reported, the Punjab government on Saturday ordered a time-bound probe into this.

Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal directed Gurdaspur deputy commissioner Abhinav Trikha to "hold a time-bound and exhaustive inquiry into the sequence of events leading to the officers resorting to pilferage of power".

The CM, in a press release, said, "Rules and regulations are the same for every citizen of the state, be it a common man or a highly placed officer."

He asked the DC to submit the inquiry report at the earliest so that stern action could be taken against the officers involved in the offence.

The CM said such acts of violation or negligence on the part of any public servant while discharging their official duties would not be tolerated at any cost and such delinquent officers deserved severe punishment that could act as a deterrent.

Confirming the development, the DC said, "Following the directions of the CM, I am holding an inquiry into the matter. I have already called for all relevant records from the SDM office and the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL)". No erring official would be spared, he added.

On Friday, HT had highlighted how the complex - having offices of SDM, tehsildar, naib tehsildar and suvidha centre - was being run on illegal kundi connections, resulting in losses to Powercom.