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Big Vigilance Crackdown: Former PSPCL CMD, Ex-XEN and Ludhiana Builder arrested in 66 KV substation corruption case
By Zinnia Balli
Chandigarh/Ludhiana, May 20 — The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has arrested former PSPCL CMD K. D. Chaudhary, former Senior XEN Sanjeev Prabhakar and Ludhiana-based builder Amit Garg in connection with an alleged corruption and misuse of official position case linked to the installation of a 66 KV power sub-station in Basant Avenue, Ludhiana.
The arrests were made by the Economic Offences Wing of the Vigilance Bureau following an investigation into Vigilance Inquiry No. 05 dated May 10, 2021. An FIR has been registered under Sections 13(1) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act along with Sections 409 and 120-B of the IPC at the Vigilance Bureau Police Station, Ludhiana.
According to Vigilance officials, the case relates to the alleged wrongful installation of a 66 KV sub-station in Basant Avenue colony in collusion with PSPCL officials, resulting in undue benefit to the colonizer.
Officials alleged that if the electricity load of all interconnected colonies developed by the builder had been properly assessed together, the entire cost of the sub-station would have been borne by the colonizer instead of public funds.
The Vigilance Bureau further claimed that guidelines issued by the Ministry of Power regarding the installation of substations were allegedly ignored. Investigators also stated that the sub-station was set up in an undeveloped area surrounded by fields, nearly 3 kilometres away from Pakhowal Link Road, and this fact was allegedly not properly disclosed in official proposals or departmental records.
According to the probe, the proposal forwarded by then XEN Sanjeev Prabhakar and other field officers was approved by then CMD K.D. Chaudhary despite alleged objections and shortcomings related to the project.
The Bureau stated that the installation directly benefited Basant Avenue Colony while causing alleged financial irregularities and misuse of official authority.
Vigilance officials confirmed that all three accused have been arrested and further investigation into the case is ongoing.