CHENNAI: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) booked a Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) assistant engineer and a foreman for demanding a Rs 50,000 bribe from a Chennai resident for a new electricity connection.The DVAC received a complaint from Villivakkam resident D Saravanaperumal on Sept 29 and laid a trap the next day. It subsequently booked TNPDCL assistant engineer Anilkumar and foreman Desingu under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.According to the FIR filed by K Bindhu, inspector of the DVAC’s Chennai City-5 unit, Saravanaperumal, who lives near Nadamuni Cinemas in Villivakkam, approached TNPDCL’s Anna Nagar office in February seeking a power connection for his newly upgraded house in the neighbourhood. Saravanaperumal met Anilkumar, who told him that the connection could cost Rs 1 lakh. Saravanaperumal argued that a three-phase connection would cost only about Rs 30,000. The AE then asked him to submit an online application, which he did on March 9.Saravanaperumal met Anilkumar two days later, following which the AE inspected his house a week later and told him that a TNPDCL foreman would meet him.The foreman arrived two weeks later and told Saravanaperumal that the AE would take care of the entire work if he paid Rs 50,000. After he refused, the resident was made to run from pillar to post for the next six months.When Saravanaperumal contacted Anilkumar on Sept 21, the AE told him to hand over the money to the foreman to get the work done. On Sept 25, the foreman initially demanded Rs 15,000 over the phone and later said the AE wanted Rs 50,000.On Sept 29, Saravanaperumal tried to meet Anilkumar at 11.45am but could not find him. The foreman told him that he had spoken to the AE, who had agreed to Rs 40,000, and asked him to pay Rs 20,000 as first instalment.Saravanaperumal approached the DVAC by 5.15pm the same day. Officials laid a trap the following day and caught the duo men red-handed.
