TN: Senthil Balaji denies irregularities in Rs 397 crore transformer tender case

Chennai, April 29 Denying any wrongdoing in the procurement of transformers during his tenure, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader and former Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji on Wednesday asserted that all established procedures were strictly followed, even as the Madras High Court ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the alleged Rs 397-crore scam.

“There is no room for irregularities, and there has been no loss to the government,” Balaji told reporters, maintaining that the transformer procurement process adhered to norms in place since 1987.

He emphasised that the same tender procedures were followed by successive governments, including previous regimes.

The High Court, in its order, directed a de novo investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation into alleged irregularities in the procurement of 45,000 distribution transformers between 2021 and 2023.

The court also instructed the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption to hand over all case-related documents to the central agency.

Further, the state government, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation and the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption have been asked to extend full cooperation to ensure an effective investigation.

A detailed order is awaited.

Explaining the tendering process, Balaji said transformer procurement typically attracts more than 20 bidders, with several quoting similar prices.

He added that the final decision is taken only after scrutiny by a technical committee and approval from the board.

“The process is transparent and involves multiple layers of verification before issuing purchase orders,” he said.

The former minister alleged that the case had been framed selectively, targeting decisions taken over the last few years while ignoring similar procedures followed earlier.

He reiterated that there was no deviation from established norms and no financial loss to the exchequer.

Balaji also accused opposition parties, including the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Bharatiya Janata Party, of influencing investigative agencies for political purposes.

Referring to cases involving Arvind Kejriwal, he claimed that central agencies were being used selectively.

“The agency appears to be acting in favour of a particular political party,” he alleged.

The case originates from petitions filed by activists and opposition figures seeking a detailed probe into the transformer procurement process, with the High Court’s directive now setting the stage for a high-profile investigation.

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