Tamil NaduSaturday, 22 August 2026·Hindu Tamil Thisai
Tamil Nadu power cable procurement probe flags over ₹1,000-crore irregularities and identical IP-based bids
The DVAC FIR on TANGEDCO cable procurement cites 2020-21 to 2022-23 purchases worth over ₹1,000 crore, identical bid prices and IP-address patterns.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In August 2026, the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) registered an FIR on alleged irregularities in TANGEDCO’s power cable procurement covering the financial years 2020-21 to 2022-23, with purchases and orders exceeding ₹1,000 crore.
Key specifics
- DVAC said 9 tenders were examined in the probe.
- The FIR refers to procurement of 2,07,495 km of power cables worth more than ₹1,000 crore.
- For one 2022-23 tender, 24 companies participated and 5 quoted the same price of ₹44,356.20 per km.
- After negotiation, the final price was fixed at ₹41,536 per km, while the government estimate was ₹38,858.07 per km.
- In the 2020-21 ACSR cable tender, 31 qualified firms quoted ₹75,048 per km and the final price was ₹74,340 per km against a government estimate of ₹71,826.66 per km.
Exam lens
Question type: Tamil Nadu governance and anti-corruption, procurement figures, estimate price versus final price. Key facts: DVAC, TANGEDCO, 2020-21 to 2022-23, ₹1,000 crore, 2,07,495 km, ₹41,536, ₹38,858.07. One-liner: Which agency filed the FIR on alleged irregularities in TANGEDCO’s cable procurement?