New Delhi, May 25, 2007

Press Release

Special Court sentences four power thieves to Tihar

(A)

• A “power thief” from Karol Bagh sent to Tihar till further orders
• BSES had caught the husband-wife couple stealing around 8 KW of electricity, penalized Rs 2.65 lakh

(B)

• In two cases, three “power thieves” of Gazipur Village sent to Tihar for 14 days
• BSES had caught the three cumulatively stealing around 40 KW of power and penalized around Rs 13.5 lakh
• Around 40-50 residents of Gazipur, including “fellow thieves” attended the Court hearing

In separate cases, the Special Court in Patparganj has sentenced four persons to Tihar jail for indulging in power theft. While three of those sentenced were stealing electricity in Gazipur Village, close to Mayur Vihar in East Delhi, the fourth accused, along with his wife was caught stealing electricity in Karol Bagh.

(A) Karol Bagh: Power theft case against a husband-wife couple, Husband sentenced to Jail

The Special Court at Patparganj has sentenced one Sumit alias Sunil, accused of stealing electricity to jail till further orders.

Earlier, in August, a BSES Enforcement raid at 5 A/205, Gali No 4, Sant Nagar, Karol Bagh caught Sumit and his wife indulging in power theft, by directly hooking from BSES service lines. The accused were using 8 KW of stolen electricity for industrial purposes. A penalty of Rs 2.65 lakh was imposed on the couple. Later, when the couple did not pay the penalty amount by the stipulated date, a complaint was lodged against them. Subsequently, the case was heard in the Special Court of Electricity.

(B) Gazipur: Three power thieves sentenced to Tihar to 14 days

The Special Court of Electricity at Patparganj has sentenced two power thieves – Pratap Chaudhary and Sanjay Kapoor , occupants of No 71, Village Gazipur to Tihar Jail for a period of 14 days.

Earlier, an inspection on 10 October, 2006 by a BSES Enforcement Team had caught the duo stealing over 35 KW of electricity. While Sanjay Kapoor was caught directly stealing electricity from the BSES service line, Pratap Chaudhary, operating from the same premises, was caught stealing electricity, both by bypassing one of the two installed electricity meters and by hooking from the nearby BSES service line. The stolen electricity was being used for industrial purposes.

A cumulative penalty of around Rs 12 lakh was slapped on the duo. When the accused failed to deposit the same, BSES lodged a FIR (No 336/2007) at the Kalyan Puri Police Station. They were subsequently arrested by the Police and produced before the Special Court.

What surprised and amazed BSES and other officials was the presence of 40-50 persons from the Gazipur Village – including many, against whom BSES had recently filed power theft cases, attended the Court proceedings – wanting to know the outcome of the case.

“The Special Court judgment has jolted the power thieves of the area, who were under the false impression that their stealing power, is above aboard. We are confident that such judgments will serve as a deterrent to people, stealing power”, said a BSES official.

In another case, the Special Court of Electricity sentenced another resident of Gazipur Village (B 14/AB , Road No 4, Gazipur Dairy Farm) - Bal Kishan Sharma to Tihar for 14 days.

Earlier, On 9 June 2006, a BSES Enforcement team had caught Bal Kishan stealing over 4 KW of electricity, by way of by passing the meter. Subsequently, a penalty bill of Rs 1.58 lakh of imposed on the accused. Later when the person failed to deposit the amount, a FIR was registered with the Police and a case filed in the Special Court.

According to a BSES spokesperson, “Since April 2006, BRPL and BYPL have filed over 1300 and 2000 cases in the Special Courts respectively.

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
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