Bescom gate: Contractors allege irregularities in meter reading tender awarded to Idea Infinity

Bengaluru

There appears to be no end to alleged irregularities in Bescom. After smart meters and vehicle hiring tender, contractors now allege financial impropriety in Idea Infinity contract. 

The contractors the blrpost.com spoke to said “previously NSOFT had provided smarter meter solutions to the state-run electricity supply company but later the contract was awarded to Idea Infinity. It was all well when NOSFT was handling the reading.” The contractors also accused Managing Director (MD), Bescom, N Shivashankara of turning a blind eye towards these irregularities. 

A contractor who did not wish to be named in the report alleged that there were procedural lapses and exchange of bribes before awarding the contract to Idea Infinity. Due to the contract, the company is being disproportionately profiting and the meter reading workers are paid pittance. 

It should be noted that a few months back Mallesh B G contractual metre readers welfare forum of KPTCL and Bescom gave media statements about poor payment to contract workers. In August, 2025, he said “we are getting very little income from Bescom as we are contractual employees. There is no value for our hard work and effort. The hired private company (Idea Infinity) is getting ₹ 16.75 per meter from Bescom, but they are giving us just ₹ 3. It is unjustifiable. Contractual workers do not get benefits like regular employees. The company is not giving leave and they treat us like we don’t matter. They just ignore our interests. There are a lot of problems, but we get no proper response.”

The contractor said there is a huge gap between Bescom’s payment towards the company and company’s payment towards the workers. He further said MD Shivashankara has turned blind eye to this and he must act. The contractors are planning to take a legal route to throw this company out, if no action was taken by the MD. 

It may be recalled that contractors had also alleged irregularities in vehicle hiring tender. After this website carried reports on the same, Bescom cancelled the tender.