New Delhi, February 3, 2006

Press Release

Joint raids Delhi Police and BSES unearths power theft from a 20 room residential complex and an industrial unit

·         Joint raids involved a total of six teams

·         Power theft worth 157 KW, amounting to Rs 1 crore

·         Raids on a 20 room residential complex and a plastic factory

A joint operation, involving BYPL Enforcement Teams and 15 policemen from the local police station, conducted a series of raids in the highly theft prone area of Karawal Nagar in East Delhi and unearthed power theft of over 157 KW, amounting to over Rs 1 crore.

The joint operation, meticulously planned and involving a total of six teams, raided four complexes, including an industrial unit manufacturing plastic moulding products and a 20 room residential complex. According to a BSES official, the industrial unit, at C – 40 Chairman Market, Khajoori Khas, engaged in manufacturing plastic moulding products did not have a meter and was found to be stealing electricity worth a whooping 100 KW, from the nearby BSES LV mains. The 20 room residential complex, fully occupied by tenants at C – 36, Gali No 1, Khajoori Khas, also did not have an electricity meter and was found to be stealing electricity worth over 50 KM from the nearby BSES LV mains.

In the two other raids, people stealing between as little as 1.11 KW to 6.KW were also raided. They were also found to be indulging in power theft, from the nearby BSES LV mains. The cumulative theft booked at over Rs 1 crore. A FIR is being lodged. According to a BSES official “we will raid anybody and every body indulging in power theft, irrespective of the quantum of theft”

According to Mr Aun Kanchan, CEO, BYPL “Strict action is being taken against the accused. Electricity offence is a criminal offence and anyone caught stealing faces charges under section/s 135,138 and 150 of the Electricity Act, 2003 and Section 420 of Indian Penal Code (IPC).”. These offences carry an imprisonment of upto three years, fine or both, he added.

According to a BSES spokesperson “BSES is going all out to eliminate the menace of power theft. A one percent theft costs BSES a whooping loss of Rs 60 crores. We appeal to all our customers to come forward and report power theft on 39999888 and 39999777”

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