2 jailed in Delhi, fined Rs 23 lakh for BSES power theft

A businessman convicted of power theft on Delhi's eastern suburbs has been sentenced to two years' rigorous imprisonment and fined over Rs 21 lakh, BSES, one of the two electricity distribution companies (discoms) in the capital, said on Wednesday,

Special Courts at Dwarka and Karkardooma have convicted a resident each at Gokulpur Village (east Delhi) and Mahavir Enclave, Palam, of large-scale power theft, a BSES statement said here.

The Special Court at Karkardooma convicted businessman Bhanwar Singh for stealing over 31 KW of power in Gokulpur Village in east Delhi.

"Of this, 22.6 KW was being used for industrial purposes and 8.8 KW for domestic purposes," BSES said. He was sentenced to two years' rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 21.5 lakh.

According to a BSES spokesperson, the judge refused to show leniency in this case and highlighted the menace of power theft by citing a Billy Joel hit song called "We didn't start the fire", a line from which goes "It was always burning, since the world's been turning".

In the second case, the Special Court of Dwarka convicted Hari Om Sharma, the owner of a rented shop in Mahavir Enclave, Palam, for power theft. BSES said he was caught stealing over 7 KW for industrial purposes.

"An assessment bill of Rs 1.30 lakh was raised on one Mr Hari Om Sharma, a tenant, which the accused did not pay within the stipulated timeframe," the BSES spokesperson said. He got one-year's simple imprisonment and was fined Rs 1.33 lakh.

In July, a young BSES engineer lost his life and four other officials were seriously injured when they were attacked by power thieves.

Earlier this year, the BSES announced the sentencing of four offenders to jail terms and cumulative fines of over Rs 1 crore.

--IANS

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