The West Bengal Police Anti-Corruption Branch arrested an officer of the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited in New Barrackpore on Tuesday while he was allegedly accepting Rs 20,000 to facilitate a new electricity connection and the installation of a transformer, according to a report by Anandabazar – West Bengal.
The case began after a resident of New Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas submitted a written complaint to the Anti-Corruption Branch. The complainant alleged that a 315 kVA transformer was required in the area for a new electricity connection and that the electricity officer had demanded Rs 20,000 to ensure that the work was completed smoothly.
Following the complaint, the Anti-Corruption Branch conducted a verification process and planned a trap operation. The agency then contacted the officer at a pre-arranged time on Tuesday, according to information attributed to Anti-Corruption Branch sources in the report.
The officer was allegedly caught when the complainant handed over the money. The Anti-Corruption Branch recovered the full amount in accordance with procedure, the report said. The account does not identify the officer by name.
The incident places the delivery of a basic urban utility at the centre of a criminal investigation. A new electricity connection can depend on technical work, equipment installation and coordination with the distribution utility. In this case, the alleged payment was linked specifically to the installation of a 315 kVA transformer and the completion of the connection process.
After an initial investigation, the Anti-Corruption Branch registered a case against the arrested officer under applicable provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The report did not specify the exact sections invoked.
The allegations against the officer have not been tested in court. The arrest followed a trap operation based on the resident’s complaint, and further investigation will determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged demand and acceptance of money.
The Anti-Corruption Branch is also investigating whether other people were involved or whether a wider network operated behind the alleged transaction. The agency’s inquiry is expected to examine the role of any additional individuals and the process through which the proposed electricity connection and transformer installation were being handled.
