Chennai: PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss has welcomed the Madras High Court order directing a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged irregularities in the procurement of 45,800 transformers for Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco).
The court's directive follows allegations that the transformers were purchased at inflated prices between 2021 and 2023, resulting in a staggering loss of Rs 397 crore to the state exchequer. In a statement on Wednesday, Anbumani described the court order as a "major victory" for opposition parties and public interest organisations such as NGO Arappor Iyakkam, which has been campaigning against the alleged scam for over two years.
Allegations of Price Inflation and Cartelisation
Anbumani alleged that the DMK government and the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) systematically blocked any investigation into the scam. "This high court verdict is a welcome step toward transparency," he said. He highlighted that Tangedco purchased 45,800 transformers for Rs 1,182 crore. For a tender involving 500 kVA transformers, 26 contractors reportedly quoted an identical price of Rs 13.72 lakh per unit, suggesting a pre-planned cartel.
While the government eventually paid Rs 12.49 lakh per unit, Anbumani claimed that the same transformers were available on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) for Rs 8.91 lakh and were purchased by the Rajasthan government for Rs 7.87 lakh. Tamil Nadu allegedly paid 37% to 50% more than the market rate for each unit, he said.
DMK Government Accused of Protecting Officials
Anbumani accused the DMK government of promoting the then electricity minister V Senthilbalaji, Tangedco chairman Rajesh Lakhani, and other senior officials in the procurement process, instead of initiating disciplinary action for their involvement. "The electricity department has become a breeding ground for corruption under DMK, from buying power at Rs 20 per unit to overpricing smart meters by 350%," he alleged.
The PMK leader urged the CBI to conduct a thorough investigation and bring all those responsible to justice. The case has reignited political debate in Tamil Nadu over governance and accountability in state-run utilities.
