New Delhi, July 11, 2007

Press Release

Gang of imposters apprehended following a customer-initiated sting operation by BSES,

F.I.R lodged & Police arrests the gang

· Alert Customer helps bust a gang of imposters, posing as BYPL Enforcement official, operating in Laxmi Nagar area

· Gang visited the customer’s premise; told him that his meter was 80% slow and threaten him with a penalty of Rs 1 lakh

· Subsequently, they offered to settle the case for Rs 20,000,

· Suspicious customer informed BSES’ Vigilance Department, a trap was subsequently laid

· Gang leader caught red handed and handed over to the Police

· FIR (522/07) lodged for cheating and Extortion u/s 420 and 384 of the IPC respectively

· Customer are advised to ask for the Identity Card of BSES officials

· Customers are advised to inform the nearest BSES office or dial 100 should they notice anything suspicious

· Customers are advised against making any payment unless given an authorised BSES receipt

In an important breakthrough, the BSES’ Vigilance Team, along with active assistance from an alert customer, managed to bust a gang of imposters - posing as BYPL Enforcement officials - operating in East Delhi’s Laxmi Nagar and adjoining areas.

Earlier, the BSES Vigilance department received a complaint from a resident of Main Mangal Bazaar Laxmi Nagar (name withheld on request) that a group of six persons, posing as BYPL Enforcement officials, visited his premise on the pretext of checking the meter. After “checking”, they proclaimed that the meter was slow by 80 percent and informed the customer that since this was a grave offence, he was liable to pay a penalty of Rs 1 lakh.

However, they told the customer, that they could “settle’ the case for a payment of Rs 20,000. This offer made the customer suspicious, but he decided to play along. He asked for some time to arrange for the money. In the meantime, he brought the incident to the notice of BSES Vigilance Department.

Subsequently, a trap was laid by the Vigilance Dept. with the cooperation of the alert customer to catch the imposters red handed. Since the group of imposters did not heed to customers request to collect the money from his residence in Laxmi Nagar, a rendezvous was fixed in Mayur Vihar. On July 9, 2007, two persons (Gang leader and his deputy) reached the designated spot to collect the money. As the money was being exchanged, the imposters Jeetender and Uday Raj, both residents of Mayur Vihar and having no connection with BYPL, were nabbed by the waiting officials from BSES’ Vigilance Department.

A number of fake documents, including identity cards and an authority letter for carrying out inspections were found in their possession. They were handed over to the Shakar Police Station along with a complaint from the customer. The duo was arrested by the Police and a FIR (No 522/07) registered for cheating and extortion u/s 420 and 384 of the Indian Penal Code.

“BSES urges its customers to guard against unscrupulous elements - out to make a quick buck in a clandestine manner and tarnish the company’s image – and not to get intimidated by their threats and false assurances – and not to give them any money – whatever be the reason. All Enforcement related payments (fines and penalties) are to be made only at designated BSES offices”, said a BSES official.

The official added, “Customers are further advised to ascertain and verify the identity of persons wanting to check the meter and should immediately alert the nearest BSES office or call 39999888 and 39999777 and inform the local Police should they notice anything suspicious”

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