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New Delhi, 12 January 2009

Press Release

Power theft in the land of Ghalib….

Court rejects Ballimaran resident’s bail application twice…sends him to Jail

• A Ballimaran resident caught stealing nearly 20 KW of electricity, penalized Rs 6. 2 lakh
• Stolen electricity was being used for running an illegal Anodizing Plant
• Power theft accused’ Bail application – including Anticipatory – rejected twice by the Special Court
• Accused granted bail only in his third attempt and after spending 6 days in jail

Mass Raid @ Kamla Market

• 9 people booked for stealing 55 KW ‘s of electricity
• Of this 3 were stealing by way of Direct Theft and 6 through meter tampering
• A cumulative penalty of around Rs 11 lakh has been levied against the accused

Ballimaran, the area that was once the abode of the iconic Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib, and houses much of his heritage today, sadly, has also become the abode for power thieves. The area has around 40% power theft. But justice has its ways of cleaning the area of some of its ills.

Recently Mohd Shahid – a resident of Budhwa Khan, Ballimaran, Chandini Chowk - was sent to jail for stealing electricity. That’s not all. The accused was sent to jail – after the Special Court of Electricity rejected his bail application – not once but twice.

In April 2008, a BSES Enforcement had caught Mohd Shahid stealing nearly 20 KW of electricity from hooking from a nearby BSES LV mains. The stolen electricity was being used for running an electricity guzzling and an illegal Anodizing Plant. Ironically, the accused had a metered load of 1 KW for domestic purposes. As per the provisions of the Indian Electricity Act 2003, a penalty of Rs 6.21 lakh was imposed on him.

When the accused failed to deposit the penalty amount within the stipulated timeframe, BYPL lodged a FIR against him at the Chandini Chowk Police Station. Fearing his imminent arrest, the accused applied for an Anticipatory Bail on November 11, 2008. After going through the evidence collated and produced by BSES, this was dismissed by the Hon’ble Court the following day. Subsequently the accused filed his bail application. This too was rejected by the Hon’ble Court on January 3, 2009 and he was remanded to Judicial Custody. The customer was finally granted bail in his third attempt – including Anticipatory Bail – on January 9, 2009 and only after spending 6 days in Jail. Meanwhile the Court case against him continues.

Mass Raid @ Kamla Market

On the other hand, BYPL Enforcement Teams conducted mass raids in Kamla Market’s Shahtara and Ajmeri Gate areas. During these raids 9 people were booked for power theft. Of these 3 were found stealing electricity by hooking from the nearby overhead BSES LV mains and 6 were found stealing by way of tampered meters. The stolen electricity was being used for both domestic and commercial purposes.

The mass raids unearthed electricity theft of around 55 KW. Total penalties of around Rs 11 lakh were imposed on those booked.

According to a BSES official, “Conducting mass raids is a difficult proposition. Often there is a lot of resistance from vested interest in these areas, as was witnessed in this case too. Inspite of the resistance and opposition, BSES will continue with its campaign against the power thieves”.

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