Ludhiana, Dec. 10 -- A routine internal audit by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has uncovered a meter reading fraud in Ludhiana, resulting in the termination of 22 meter readers, officials said. The investigation revealed that around 65 consumers across the district, in collusion with these meter readers, tampered with their electricity data to slash bills and evade actual charges.

According to officials, the two-day audit identified 22 errant meter readers who deliberately underreported a staggering 44,452 units during routine checks. This malpractice caused a revenue loss of Rs.4.13 lakh, straining the department's already overburdened power subsidy after pushing the concealed units into the subsidy slab.

The audit...