Actor fined for power theft

A fine amount of Rs. 70,000 was collected from actor Santhanam and an amount of Rs. 16,000 was levied as compound fees to avoid criminal proceedings.

The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) is taking power misuse very seriously and making an example by handing out punitive action to violators. On Wednesday, actor Santhanam was caught on the other side of the law, when officials found that he was using a domestic connection for commercial purposes.

The ex-servicemen squad of the Tangedco, in a surprise raid, immediately cut off power supply to the actor’s house, located in Saligramam, which doubles as an office. They established that the actor, after having got a domestic connection, was using it for commercial purposes.

A fine amount of Rs. 70,000 was collected and an amount of Rs. 16,000 was levied as compound fees to avoid criminal proceedings. Power supply was restored to the premises on the same day following an oral petition from the actor.

In a similar inspection by the flying squad of Tangedco, a case of energy theft was identified in a plastic industry in Vyasarpadi. A provisional assessment amount of Rs. 3,69,775 was collected and a compound amount of Rs. 40,000 was levied as fine.

The Tangedco has several anti-power theft squads in its wings, including the enforcement division and chairman’s flying squad.