Boudh: A case has been registered against an electricity meter reader in Odisha's Boudh district for allegedly using AI-based image editing tools to manipulate readings, causing an estimated loss of around Rs 1.74 lakh to the power distribution company.

The accused has been identified as Rajat Kumar Nayak (26), a resident of Manikpur village under Purunakatak police limits. He was working with Tata Power Southern Odisha Distribution Limited (TPSODL) on an outsourcing basis.

Police registered the case following a complaint filed by TPSODL officials. Nayak allegedly altered photographs of electricity meters before uploading them into the company's billing system. By suppressing the actual power consumption shown on the meters, he reportedly generated incorrect electricity bills, leading to financial losses.

The alleged fraud came to light during a routine verification of digital meter reading records after the company's monitoring system detected unusual patterns in the uploaded data.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the photographs of electricity meters had been digitally edited. It is suspected that the meter number was removed from the original image while the displayed reading was modified, allowing the same photograph to be reused for billing multiple consumers.

Police have launched an investigation to determine the full extent of the alleged fraud and whether any other individuals were involved in the manipulation of meter reading records.