Denying any wrongdoing in the procurement of transformers during his tenure, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader and former Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji stated that all established procedures were strictly followed. The Madras High Court has ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the alleged Rs 397-crore scam. Balaji emphasized that there were no irregularities and no loss to the government in the transformer procurement process.
He highlighted that the tender procedures followed were consistent with norms in place since 1987. The High Court’s order mandates a fresh investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation into alleged irregularities in the procurement of 45,000 distribution transformers between 2021 and 2023. Additionally, the court instructed the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption to provide all case-related documents to the central agency for the investigation.
The state government, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation, and the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption have been directed to offer full cooperation for an effective investigation. Balaji explained that the transformer procurement process usually attracts over 20 bidders, with many quoting similar prices. He assured that the final decision is made only after thorough scrutiny by a technical committee and approval from the board.
Alleging that the case was selectively framed, targeting recent decisions while overlooking past practices, Balaji reiterated that there was no deviation from established norms and no financial loss to the exchequer. He accused opposition parties, including the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Bharatiya Janata Party, of influencing investigative agencies for political gains. Balaji criticized the selective use of central agencies, claiming they were favoring a specific political party.
The case originated from petitions by activists and opposition figures seeking a detailed probe into the transformer procurement process. The High Court’s directive now paves the way for a significant investigation into the matter.
