New Delhi, 17 February 2009

Press Release

BSES unearths 425 KW’s of power theft, books 49 in mass raids in “Delhi 6”

Mass raids in Delhi 6, unearth power theft of 425 KW, 49 booked
Many booked for power theft were small-mid sized shopkeepers
Cumulatively penalty of around Rs 85 lakh liable to be imposed
In another case, shopkeeper sentenced to jail for power theft
Shopkeeper was earlier caught stealing around 11 KW of electricity, penalized Rs 6.6 lakh
Since January 2008, 1600 booked and 6103 KW of power theft unearthed in Chandini Chowk
BSES is planning more mass raids in the days and weeks ahead

Delhi 6 needs no introduction. Each lane, bylane, kucha, mohalla in this walled city is seeped in history. But the irony is that rampant theft of electricity has also become a habit of many people – particularly small and mid-sized shopkeepers – in this area. This is one battle BSES has been waging since 2002 and has in a recent crackdown in Chandini Chowk, Darya Ganj, Pahar Ganj and Patel Nagar unearthed power theft of a whopping 425 KW. Forty-nine people were booked and BSES is in the process of levying a cumulative penalty of around Rs 85 lakh against them.

To minimize the attack by unscrupulous elements, BSES enforcement teams were accompanied by Delhi Police and CISF personnel in areas including Suiwalan, Turkman Gate, Kasabpura, Bara Hindu Rao, Katra Bagariyan and Punjabi Basti..

Suiwalan (Darya Ganj)

Turkman Gate (Darya Ganj)

Kasabpura

(Pahar Ganj)

Bara Hindurao

(Pahar Ganj)

Katra Bagariyan

(Chandni Chowk)

Punjabi Basti

(Patel Nagar)

No of Consumers Booked

Power theft unearthed (KW)

119

33.25

“Darya Ganj and Pahar Ganj accounted for the bulk of electricity theft. Of the 49 people booked, 24 came from these two divisions – accounting for 324 KW of power theft stolen. The stolen electricity was being used for both commercial and domestic purposes. Infact many of those booked were small-mid size shopkeepers in the area who were found stealing electricity by way of both Direct Theft and Metering Tampering”, said a BSES official.

Shopkeeper caught stealing 11 KW of electricity, sent to Jail

In another case, the Special Court of Electricity, Karkardooma remanded one Quyamuddin a resident of Bhojala Sayedan, Turkman Gate, Gali Sayedan to judicial custody for stealing electricity. Though he was granted bail, but only after spending a few days in jail.

Earlier in October 2008, Quyamuddin along with Mirazuddin (Miraz) were caught stealing around 11 KW of electricity by BSES’s Enforcement team. The stolen electricity was being used for commercial purposes. According to the Indian Electricity Act 2003, the duo was penalized Rs 6.6 lakh. When they could not pay the penalty within the stipulated time period, a FIR was lodged against them on February 5, 2009 at the Chandini Mahal Police Station.

“BSES will continue with its aggressive posture on power theft. More such mass raids are planned in the high power theft areas in the days and weeks ahead. People must realize that they will have to pay for what they consume. There is no getting away. Sooner than later law will catch up with such offenders, said a BSES official.

According to a BSES spokesperson, “Since January 2008, BSES Enforcement teams have booked nearly 1600 people stealing 6103 Kw of electricity. Moreover, since July 2002, BSES Enforcement teams have booked over 1.14 lakh people stealing 7.23 lakh KW of electricity”

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	39999642/9350130304