New Delhi, February 7, 2007

Press Release

 

Two ‘Industrialists’ sent to jail on power theft charges and 

Gang of Transformer Thieves busted

(A)

·         The industrialists were running a plastic moulding factory in Okhla Industrial Area were caught by BSES Enforcement Team stealing over 100 KW of power

·         Penalty amount of over Rs 41 lakh was imposed on the duo

·         The duo was directed by the Special Court to pay Rs 3 lakh as stipulated bail amount

·         The duo appealed against the Special Court verdict in the High Court

·         High Court upheld the Special Court order verdict and rejected the duo’s petition

 

(B)     

·         Delhi Police with BSES’ assistance apprehended gang of thieves responsible for stealing over 53 pole mounted transformers in BSES South and West Delhi areas disrupting power supply

·         Total value of the 53 transformers nearly Rs 25 lakhs

 

BSES’ efforts to control power theft and remove distribution supply constraints are getting increasing support from the long arm of the law. In two recent but separate cases, a Special Court of Electricity sentenced two factory owners to jail for stealing power and failing to deposit Court stipulated bail amount.

 

In another case, Delhi Police with assistance from BSES apprehended a gang of thieves – responsible for stealing 53 Transformers from BSES area in South and West Delhi.

 

(A) Two Okhla Industrial Area factory owners sent to Jail for stealing power and failing to deposit Special Court stipulated bail amount.

 

Recently, two factory owners R K Sharma and Thomas, running a Plastic Injection Moulding unit at B305 Okhla Industrial Area – Phase I were sentenced by a Special Court of Electricity to 7 days jail for stealing over 100kw of power and failing to deposit Rs 3 lakh each as stipulated bail amount.

 

Earlier the duo – running a Plastic Injection Moulding unit were caught by a BSES Enforcement Team stealing over 100 KW of electricity by tampering the Electronic Meter. A penalty amount of nearly Rs 42 lakh was imposed on them – which the duo failed to deposit. BSES then lodged a FIR against them and filed a case in the Special Court. In November 2006, the Court directed the accused to deposit Rs 3 lakh each as stipulated bail amount.

 

To avoid paying the amount, the duo challenged the order of the Special Court in the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi. In a judgment delivered on December 15, 2006 – the Hon’ble High Court, upholding the decision of the Special Court rejected the bail application of the duo under sections 482 of Cr.Pc.

 

Speaking on the extent of power theft in Okhla, a BSES spokesperson said, “In the last four years, BSES Enforcement Teams have booked over 450 cases of power theft in Okhla, amounting to  nearly 15000 KW of power theft, and penalties of Rs 8.8 crore have been imposed. Such cases of power theft definitely affect power supply to other Industrial customers in the area”

  

 

 

(B) Delhi Police with BSES’ assistance bust a gang responsible or sealing over 50 pole mounted transformers

 

In a major breakthrough, Delhi Police with assistance from BSES has managed to apprehend a gang of thieves, including the mastermind – responsible for stealing pole mounted electricity transformers in BSES area.

 

The arrest of the gang has solved over 50 cases of transformer thefts in South and West Delhi areas including Sewak Park, Mohan Garden, OM Vihar, Press Enclave (West Delhi), Sainik Vihar, Uttam Nagar etc.

 

“Based on several FIRs registered by BSES at various police stations in West and South Delhi from April 2005 to January 2007, the Delhi police team at Uttam Nagar were able to nab a gang of transformer thieves late last week” said a BSES official.

 

Explaining the modus operandi of the gang, a BSES official said “The thieves used to open the nuts and bolts of these 25 KVA transformers and throw them on the ground. They left the box behind and sold the copper core and ‘stamping’ to the Kabariwalas of Mayapuri” he added “The total value of the stolen transformers is nearly Rs 25 lakh.”

 

“This explains why despite BSES investing Rs 2900 crores on improving infrastructure in its area, there are still some pockets within its jurisdiction which witness frequent incidence of no power. One reason for these outages is the incidence of theft of BSES distribution equipment including electricity cables and transformers in some areas which leads to the customers in the area facing no power” said a BSES official.

 

The BSES spokesperson further added “We appeal to our customers, Bhagidari partners, RWA and local neighbourhood patrols to help BSES fight this menace of theft of electricity equipment in the East, Central, South and West areas. Customers are requested to be alert and inform local BSES authorities or dial 100 and ask for police assistance in the event that they find unidentified people damaging or sabotaging power supply equipment. Undoubtedly, an aware and alert public will go a long way in improving the power supply and stem the incidence of no power in an area” 

 

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