Delhi residents get jail, Rs 30 lakh fine for power thefts

Listing the heavy punishments handed out by special electricity courts in Delhi for power thefts, BSES, one of the capital's two distribution companies (discoms), on Friday said two offenders have been sent to jail and fines imposed totalling over Rs 30 lakh.

"In separate cases, six individuals including owners of a tailoring shop, a construction firm and two proclaimed offenders were sent to jail by Special Courts of Electricity, Saket and Karkardooma," a BSES release here said.

"Cumulatively, they have also been penalised (fine + civil liability) over Rs 30 lakh," it added.

According to the discom, among the convicted are the owner of a tailoring shop, who has been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for three months and fined Rs 11.3 lakh, as well as the owners of a de-silting firm. They have been awarded rigorous imprisonment for three months and penalty of Rs 13.2 lakh.

"Three persons in Central Delhi, including a resident of DDA flats, have been sent to Tihar Jail for power theft," a BSES spokesperson said.

Earlier this year, BSES had announced the sentencing of an offender to one year of jail and a fine of over Rs 25 lakh.

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

--IANS

bc/vt