Chennai, June 4: Dr. Ambumani Ramadas, the president of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), has called for a thorough investigation into the alleged theft of hard disks containing sensitive data from the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) headquarters. He expressed concerns that this incident may be linked to efforts to destroy evidence of corruption and irregularities within the electricity department.
In a statement, Ramadas described the reports of several hard disks containing critical government records going missing from the Chennai-based TNEB headquarters as shocking. He emphasized that the theft of sensitive data from one of the state’s most important public institutions is a serious issue.
According to media reports, 18 hard disks were stolen from the TNEB headquarters, while only 8 were mentioned in the police complaint. Ramadas questioned this discrepancy, suggesting that the actual number of missing hard disks could be much higher than officially reported.
He claimed that the stolen hard disks contained vital documents and information related to coal procurement, contracts, administrative decisions, and alleged irregularities in the electricity sector. Given the nature of this information, he raised suspicions that the theft may have been intended to eliminate evidence of corruption.
Ramadas also criticized the security measures at the TNEB headquarters, stating that access is tightly monitored, making it difficult for outsiders to enter and remove government equipment. This raises concerns about the potential involvement of insiders or employees in the incident.
Additionally, he alleged that the CCTV cameras at the headquarters had not been operational for the past five years. If true, he stated that the prolonged inoperability of surveillance systems in such a crucial government office is a grave matter that also warrants investigation.
Ramadas pointed out that the state’s electricity sector has been under scrutiny for allegations of corruption. Therefore, he urged the government to conduct a comprehensive investigation into this alleged theft, identify those responsible, and determine whether the purpose of the hard disk theft was to conceal evidence of misconduct or corruption.
He also demanded to know why the monitoring mechanisms in an office responsible for sensitive records had been allowed to remain inactive for years.
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