Consumers left in lurch as Tata Power employee ‘embezzles’ Rs 20 lakh with ‘false bill receipts’

Several electricity consumers in Odisha’s Balasore are now a worried lot. Reason, a senior official of Tata Power has allegedly duped them of lakhs by providing ‘fake receipts’. The matter came to light after police arrested Sargaon commercial section officer Arun Jena in connection with the alleged fraud recently. Police suspects that there could have been a cheating to the tune of Rs 20 lakh.

Pramod Panda of Bardhanpur, who runs an ice-factory, allegedly paid around Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000 per month towards electricity charges to commercial section officer Arun Jena.

According to Jena, there is no arrear on him. However, his entire world turned upside down after company officials came to disconnect his electricity line. It was during this period that he learnt the electricity bill receipts provided to him were fake.

“It was only after some officials came to disconnect my electricity line stating that bills were due, I knew that I have been victim of fraud. When I downloaded the bill, Rs 2.27 lakh was pending. I have paid all dues and only Rs 62,000 is pending. I was told to pay Rs 72,000 for the last bill.”

Sushil Bhuiyan, another customer has also fallen victim to such fraud.

“For the last three months, I received a bill of Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 a month. Later, I learnt that all the bills given to me by the official are false bill receipts. It is now showing as an arrear against my consumer number. There has been similar fraud with around 20 to 25 persons.”

Based on the complaints of the consumers, Tata Power had lodged a police complaint and the concerned official has been arrested. Though any formal statement is yet to be issued by the company, Balasore SP said that the matter is being investigated and the magnitude of the fraud will be known soon.

Balasore SP Sagarika Nath said, “The official had either generated fake bills or collected cash from various customers without giving receipts. The cash has been collected, but it is not reflecting in TPDNOL company statement book. As he is in a position of power, we have registered a case under the section of cheating and criminal breach of trust. The total amount misappropriated will be known after the probe.”

TPNODL CEO, Bhaskar Sarkar said, “We had some doubts and hence lodged a complaint. Only after police investigation, we will be able to comment on this. We will be definitely honouring consumers’ genuine transactions and take appropriate steps.”