Tamil Nadu Orders Inquiry Into Missing 18 Hard Disks From Electricity Department
Tamil Nadu orders probe into missing hard disks case.
The Tamil Nadu government has ordered a police investigation into the theft of 18 hard disk drives from the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) headquarters in Chennai, with authorities confirming that several individuals have been detained for questioning in connection with the case. Electricity Minister C T R Nirmal Kumar said on Thursday that the investigation is ongoing and that police are examining whether there was any internal involvement in the disappearance of the storage devices.
He also confirmed that a team has travelled to Bengaluru as part of efforts to trace and apprehend suspects linked to the incident. According to sources, a temporary contract employee working at the TNEB headquarters has been detained by the Chintadripet police. The alleged theft is reported to have taken place between May 16 and May 17, prompting a detailed internal review and coordination with law enforcement agencies.
The minister stated that investigators are exploring the possibility of collusion between external actors and departmental staff. He added that while the missing hard disks contained administrative and tender-related information, critical operational data has not been permanently lost as backup systems are in place, and recovery efforts are underway. The incident has raised concerns over data security and internal oversight within the electricity department, with authorities reviewing access controls and procedural safeguards at the headquarters.
Also Read: Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Allocates Rajya Sabha Seat To Congress
Officials are also assessing whether additional security measures are required to prevent similar breaches in the future. Separately, the minister used the occasion to level allegations against former DMK Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji, accusing him of irregularities in tender estimations, particularly in the procurement of transformers. He claimed that past contracts were awarded at inflated prices and said reforms would be introduced to improve transparency in procurement processes.
The government also announced plans to introduce policy changes aimed at standardising tender evaluations based on market rates, alongside the creation of a new online portal for solar project applications to reduce the role of intermediaries. Additionally, officials said the department will begin publishing detailed reports on major power outages to improve public transparency.
On inter-state issues, the minister criticised Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar over the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, stating that Tamil Nadu is pursuing legal measures to oppose what it describes as an unauthorised construction plan. The remarks come amid ongoing tensions between the two states over Cauvery river water sharing.
Also Read: Tamil Nadu, Puducherry Likely To Get Rain And Thunderstorms For Four Days
