Electricity Minister V. Senthil Balaji on Thursday clarified that TANGEDCO has had no commercial relationship with the Adani Group in the last three years. The statement came amid media reports of an arrest warrant issued in the United States against Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani and two other executives in a bribery and fraud case.
Addressing the media in Karur, the minister emphasized that Tamil Nadu’s power procurement strategy is based solely on agreements signed with central government agencies, not private corporate groups.
“I saw news circulating on social media mentioning Tamil Nadu in relation to a case filed in the US against the Adani Group. I want to make it clear: Tangedco has not had any commercial link with the Adani Group over the past three years,” said Senthil Balaji.
Tamil Nadu’s Power Procurement via SECI
The minister further clarified that Tamil Nadu’s current electricity procurement agreements are through the Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) — a Union Ministry of Power enterprise. Through SECI, Tamil Nadu has signed agreements to purchase 1,500 MW of power.
“SECI acts as a facilitator between power producers and state governments. Pricing and agreements are finalized by SECI before the state enters the deal,” Balaji explained.
He also contrasted the current procurement rate of ₹2.61 per unit with the ₹7.01 per unit cost during the previous AIADMK government’s tenure, claiming the current approach has resulted in significant cost savings for the state.
Appeal for Responsible Reporting
Calling for responsible journalism, Balaji appealed to media platforms and social media users to verify information directly with the minister’s office or the department before publishing unverified claims.
“We are always ready to offer clarifications. Misinformation can lead to unnecessary confusion and damage public trust,” he added.
This clarification comes as the Adani Group faces legal challenges in the US for alleged misconduct in securing infrastructure contracts while seeking foreign investment.