Four Tangedco officials caught' taking money face suspension

SALEM: At least four officials of the State electricity utility, Tangedco, have been issued suspension orders on Saturday by their higher authorities in the wake of a video purportedly showing some officials in Salem accepting money to clear an applications for opening an oil mill, in a sting operation by an aspiring entrepreneur-turned-whistleblower.

The entrepreneur from Thasanaikenpatti in Salem district, Surendhar, recently applied for opening a mill to make groundnut oil. After meeting officials from various departments he was made to go for pillar to post and officials allegedly demanded bribes to clear his papers, claimed Surendhar.

However, in a frustrating yet bold move to expose them, Surendhar handed over speed money to more than 15 officials in various departments and quietly captured them in a hidden video camera. He released the video to the media on Friday, which sent shockwaves across Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, the superintending engineer of Salem Electricity Distribution Circle, R Manivannan issued orders for suspending four Tangedco officials, who were caught on the videotape.  They included an assistant executive engineer Venugopal, field assistant Kandhasami, commercial inspector Kandhasami and a junior engineer Saravanan. Similarly, a block food safety official Arumugasamy was also issued notice seeking explanation over the issue.

The sting operation by the entrepreneur-turned-whistle blower has shaken the district administration officials who have not seen such a brazen exposure in recent times.