Will move court, warns Thangamani on Stalin’s charges

“The Opposition leader should verify the corruption charges before releasing press communiques with the intention to malign the government. Stalin has been making fake charges against the government. Despite repeated explanations, Stalin is indulging in such malicious acts and so we may have no other choice but to move to court,” said Thangamani. 

Stalin had on Wednesday alleged that Tangedco was buying wind energy to the tune of Rs 9.17 crore from a private company without the company generating any wind power. However, Thangamani dismissed the allegations and said that there was no corruption in buying wind energy. “In fact, there was mismanagement only in buying power from two private thermal power plants and it was found in the internal audit of Tangedco in February 2018. Three of the officials involved in the mismanagement were suspended and Rs 11 crore was demanded from the two power plants,” said Thangamani. 

He also said that Stalin had no idea of what is happening in the department and is releasing press communiques written by someone else as he had no knowledge about wind energy generation.

“In the press communique Stalin, had quoted a letter from Superintending Engineering (SE) about wind energy purchase in November. Does Stalin know that there will be zero wind energy production in November and December? Why should the state buy wind energy from a private company?” asked Thangamani.

Stalin on Thursday released the audit report of Tirunelveli division of Tangedco and demanded the resignation of Thangamani owning responsibility for the bogus wind power generation scam.

Stalin, who alleged that Rs 9 crore was paid to a firm for power which was not generated, on Thursday made public the finding of the assistant audit officer of Tangedco, Tirunelveli, and said that it was evident now that bogus energy allotment was made without generation. “I have released the evidence now. If the electricity minister still maintains that there was no irregularity, is he ready to demit office and order a CBI probe in to the bogus energy (wind) allotment scam.

Dismissing Thangamani’s argument that it was a matter concerning private firms, Stalin wondered what warranted a letter from the superintending engineer of Thoothukudi block of Tamil Nadu Electricity Distribution Corporation. 

Seeking to know what action has been initiated on the superintending engineer, the DMK president asked why TEDC had sent a demand notice for Rs 11 crore, as was informed by the minister in the presser, if it were an issue involving private firms. Stalin said, “Why did the audit officer suggest collection of Rs 9 crore if the TEDC was not affected by it?”