Delhi resident gets jail, Rs 4 lakh fine for power theft

One of the capital's two distribution companies (discoms), BSES, on Monday said special electricity courts in Delhi for power thefts have handed out heavy punishment to two offenders -- one of them sentenced to jail, and Rs 4 lakh fine imposed.

"In two separate cases, Special Courts of Electricity, Dwarka and Karkardooma, have convicted owner of a mid-sized computer centre and an affluent resident of power theft," a BSES release here said.

"While the owner of the computer centre in Uttam Nagar in West Delhi has been awarded one-year jail and a penalty (Fine + Civil Liability) of around Rs 4 lakh for stealing electricity, a Dilshad Garden resident has been convicted of stealing 19 KW electricity for domestic purposes," it added.

According to the discom, their inspection team had unearthed power theft of 5.7 KW at the computer centre in Vishwas Park, Uttam Nagar in Dwarka area, where electricity was being stolen by bypassing the non-domestic meter.

"The accused did not pay the fine, pleaded not guilty and claimed trial," a BSES spokesperson said.

On the Dilshad Garden case of stealing over 19 KW electricity, the BSES said that a power theft bill of Rs 1.86 lakh had been raised earlier against the resident.

"When the accused failed to deposit the same, a criminal complaint had been filed before the Special Court to take cognisance in the matter," the discom said.

While convicting the person in this case, "the court will determine the sentence and civil liability later", it added.

Earlier this year, the BSES had announced the sentencing of three offenders to jail terms and cumulative fines of over Rs 55 lakh.

Last year, special courts in four separate judgments had sentenced Delhi residents to rigorous imprisonment for power theft and imposed heavy fines.

--IANS

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