New Delhi, 05 December, 2005

Press Release

BSES files case against two time offender

in the Special Court today

BSES Yamuna Power Limited today filed a case of theft against two-time offender Sapan Banerjee, resident of C -19 & C-20, New Ashok Nagar, Mayur Vihar Phase III. 

Banerjee who is the owner of a 93 room property including shops, was caught by BSES vigilance officials twice for the same offence – THEFT. 

The accused was first caught indulging in direct theft by the BSES enforcement officials on the September 21, 2005.  The connected load at the premise was found to be 40 KW whereas his sanctioned load was 5 KW.  BSES had imposed a fine of more than Rs 12 lakhs on him and removed his meter on account of theft. 

Thereafter, Banerjee was given a personal hearing by a panel of senior officials of BSES headed by the COO where he vehemently denied indulging in theft and challenged that BSES could anytime again inspect his premise for evidence of theft. 

On the November 30, 2005, BSES enforcement officials again raided his premise and found that again Banerjee was stealing power by hooking.   

Banerjee owns property which has 93 rooms spread over three floors including shops on the ground floor.  Besides the rented-out shops, he has tenants residing in all the rooms.  He has been charging all the occupants Rs 4 per unit besides a flat sum of Rs 700 per month.

The consumer has time and again managed to mislead some sections of media into believing that the discom was not providing him with a connection and had slapped a wrong case of theft on him.  However, BSES has all the relevant evidence to prove that he was twice guilty of stealing power by hooking and drawing power more than his sanctioned load. 

According to a BSES spokesperson, “Since the accused had indulged in the same offence, that of stealing power, twice, we will ensure that offenders like him are dealt with strongly.  Our enforcement team will soon begin raids in the Ashok Nagar and Dallupura areas of BYPL and we intend to file all cases of theft in the Special Court.”

The offence of direct theft carries an imprisonment for a term of not less than six months but which many extend to five years or fine or both.”

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