Patiala, August 7: A local fruit processor has formally requested an inquiry by the Vigilance Bureau after accusing an official from the Sanaur Electricity Sub-Division of running a monthly bribery scheme.
Gaurav, who operates a banana processing unit on Bolar Road, stated during a press interaction that the Sub-Divisional Officer demanded recurring payments to maintain standard utility services.
He affirmed that refusing to meet the demands resulted in intentional electrical outages lasting between 12 to 20 hours at his facility.
“Continuous electricity is essential for ripening and preserving the inventory,” Gaurav maintained, adding that the sustained disruptions caused significant stock damage amounting to lakhs of rupees.
He noted that despite bringing the issue to administrative attention on multiple occasions, no remedial measures were taken.
The industrialist declared his intention to escalate the matter to higher state authorities to ensure an impartial investigation. Addressing the media, he pointed to the supply transformer servicing his facility as the primary point of interference.
When contacted regarding the allegations, the Sanaur Sub-Divisional Officer rejected the claims, describing them as entirely without basis. The official asserted that the department does not intentionally disrupt service to any consumer, attributing power interruptions solely to occasional technical faults or broader grid power cuts.
