New Delhi, 17 April  2008

Press Release

 

Now 4 years Rigorous Imprisonment and Rs 37.5 lakh fine for a habitual power thief

His 2nd Conviction in less than a month…..already serving a 2 year RI

 

·         Successful businessman and a habitual power thief (caught 7 times) sent to 4 years of RI

·         Special Court asks this habitual thief to pay a fine of Rs 37.5 lakh – failing which, he will undergo a further imprisonment of one year

·         In less than a month, the accused has been convicted twice. Earlier he was sentenced to 2 years  of RI and fined Rs 82 lakh

 

There are many ways to describe Master Puran Singh. As the name suggests, he is a ‘master’ at many things. He is a ‘master’ businessman – running his mid sized ‘plastic moulding’ empire from West Delhi’s Village Ranholla. He is also a ‘master’ power thief – having built his empire by stealing electricity – at a serious cost to all honest consumers. In fact, BSES has caught Master Puran Singh stealing power for a record seven times. This is his second conviction.

 

Coming down heavily on this bijli chor – one of many, particularly, in the business of plastic moulding, the Vikaspuri-based Special Court of Electricity ignored all his pleas, including the one asking for leniency citing his age. The Court sentenced the accused to 4 years of Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) and a fine of Rs 37.5 lakh. In the event, he is unable to pay the fine; he will have to undergo a further imprisonment of one year. This is the second time that Master Puran Singh has been convicted for power theft in less than a month. Earlier, he was sentenced to 2 years of (RI) and fined Rs 82 lakh. Both the sentences will run concurrently.

 

Earlier on 20 January 2007, a BRPL Enforcement Team had caught the accused stealing a whopping 102 KW of electricity by directly tapping into a nearby BSES LV Mains. The stolen power was being used by the accused to run his mid sized PVC Granules making factory near Village Ranholla. The raiding team also came across 4-5 workers busy operating the large machines in his plastic moulding unit.  No meter was found on site. Subsequently, in accordance to the provisions laid in the Indian Electricity 2003, a penalty of Rs 75 lakh penalty was imposed on him. Later when the accused, did not pay the penalty within a stipulated time, BSES filed a case in the Special Court.

 

After hearing the arguments of both sides and going through the evidence, the Court sentenced the accused to Rigorous Imprisonment. “….Testimony of these witnesses supported by the documents like inspection report. Photographs etc prove the prosecution case that there was a direct supply of electricity from BSES LV Mains in the premises situated near pole no 5 and Govt Primary School in Village Ranhola ”, said the Hon’ble Judge, in his order. It is pertinent to mention that that during the course of the trial, the accused took the plea of not guilty and even refuted the evidence presented.

 

The order further says “It being a case of second conviction of the accused, Provision II to Sec 135 of the Electricity Act is attracted which provides that in the event of second or subsequent conviction, the sentence shall be imprisonment for a term not less than six months but may extend to five years and with a fine not less than six times the financial gain on account of such theft of electricity”. “…I find in the given circumstances a sentence of four years rigorous imprisonment to accused in the present case shall meet the ends of justice…”

 

BSES, Delhi’s premier power distribution company, is committed to ensuring quality and reliable electricity supply to all its consumers.

For further information please contact:

Prashant Dua

Chandra P Kamat

Corporate Communications

Corporate Communications

39999870 / 9312007822

39999088/9350130304