Boudh: An electricity meter reader in Odisha’s Boudh district has been booked for allegedly using artificial intelligence (AI)-based image editing tools to tamper with electricity meter readings, causing an estimated loss of nearly Rs 1.74 lakh to the power distribution company.
The accused, identified as Rajat Kumar Nayak (26) of Manikpur village under Purunakatak police station limits, was employed by Tata Power Southern Odisha Distribution Limited (TPSODL) on an outsourcing basis.
According to police, the case was registered following a complaint lodged by TPSODL officials. Nayak is accused of digitally altering photographs of electricity meters before uploading them to the company’s billing system. By manipulating the displayed readings and suppressing actual power consumption figures, he allegedly generated inaccurate electricity bills, resulting in financial losses for the utility provider.
The suspected fraud was detected during a routine verification of digital meter-reading records after the company’s monitoring mechanism flagged unusual patterns in the data being uploaded.
Preliminary investigations revealed signs of digital tampering in several meter photographs. Officials suspect that the meter identification number was removed from original images and the displayed readings were modified, enabling the same image to be reused for billing multiple consumers while concealing actual electricity usage.
Police have launched a detailed investigation to ascertain the full scale of the alleged fraud and determine whether any other individuals were involved in manipulating meter-reading records.
Authorities are also examining the digital devices and records linked to the accused to identify the tools used and assess the extent of the financial impact on the power distribution company.
