New Delhi, July 31, 2007

Press Release

Special Court convicts a Plastic moulding factory owner of power theft,

…sentenced to six months jail and penalised Rs 4.3 lakh

· Special Court of Electricity convicts a mid sized plastic factory owner in Uttam Nagar of stealing power

· Plastic moulding factory owner was earlier caught by a BSES Enforcement team stealing 16 KW of power – penalised Rs 5.72 lakh

· The accused did not pay the penalty amount by the stipulated date

· Subsequently, BSES moved the Special Court for determination of Civil and Criminal liabilities

· Power theft in Uttam Nagar – Cases booked > 3800, power theft load unearthed > 12400 KW, penalties imposed > Rs 16 crore

In a significant decision that is likely to send shock waves among the ‘affluent’ power thieves in the Capital, the Special Court of Electricity at Vikaspuri has not only convicted and sentenced one Dharamraj – owner of a plastic moulding factory in Uttam Nagar to a six months jail term for stealing electricity but also imposed a civil liability of Rs 4.3 lakh.

Earlier in an inspection carried out by a BRPL Enforcement Team on July 18, 2005, Dharamraj – running his Plastic moulding factory at 45 Village Bindapur in West Delhi’s area – was caught stealing 16 KW of electricity by illegally tapping into BSES’ LV mains. Subsequently, according to the provisions laid down in the Indian Electricity Act 2003, a penalty of over Rs 5.72 lakh was imposed on him. When the accused, failed to deposit the penalty amount within the stipulated timeframe, a case was filed in the Special Court for determination of Civil and Criminal liabilities.

After hearing the arguments of both the sides and taking note of the evidence presented by BSES, the Special Court of Electricity pronounced the accused guilty of theft of electricity and sentenced him to undergo an imprisonment of six months. In addition, the Court also determined a Civil liability of Rs 4.3 lakh against the convicted person u/s 135 of the Indian Electricity Act 2003.

According to a BSES official, “So far BSES discoms have filed over 5000 case in the three Special Courts in their area. So far the Courts have sent over 175 power thieves to jail – spending a cumulative of over 2400 man days in jail”

Power theft in Uttam Nagar

There is significant power theft in the Uttam Nagar area. In the last few years, BSES has booked over 3800 of power theft cases, unearthed a power theft load of over 12400 KW and levied penalties of over Rs 16 crore in the 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