New Delhi, May 30, 2007

Press Release

“Not Guilty” plea backfires for a Punjabi Bagh resident in Special Court

• Special Court directs the accused to pay fine, in addition to the power theft fine imposed by BSES
• The accused had pleaded not guilty and had asked for a trial
• During the course of the trial, the accused confessed to sealing power
• BSES Enforcement Team had detected power theft at the accused’s residence, and raised a penalty of Rs 30,000

Subsequent to an anti power theft raid, BSES had filed a case against the owners and occupiers of C -368 JJ Colony, Madipur, Punjabi Bagh The accused had initially pleaded not guilt and had asked for a trial in the first place. The Special Court of Electricity at Vikaspuri, after hearing the arguments of both parties penalized the accused – in addition to the penalties imposed by BSES.

Earlier, a BSES Enforcement raid on December 22, 2005 had found the occupants directly stealing electricity, by bypassing BSES’ electricity meter. Later BSES framed charges u/s 135 of Indian Electricity Act, 2003 against the accused and levied a penalty of Rs 29,712.

The accused, one Minu Ram, was summoned before the Court and later released on bail. During the course of the raid, BSES officials were informed by the residents of the area that the owner of “Nandini Chauhan Bhawan” was one Nandini Chauhan. Subsequently, when it was realized that Nandini, the grand daughter of Minu Ram was infact a minor, BSES moved an application for the deletion of her name as a co-accused.

All along, Minu Ram, the accused pleaded not guilty and accused BSES of wrongly booking him and asked for a trial.

During the course of the arguments, however, the accused pleaded guilty and voluntary confessed to his crime. He also paid the power theft penalty of Rs 29,712 imposed on him.

After considering all the arguments, the Court sentenced the accused till rising of the Court and directed him to deposit a further fine of Rs 5,000 – in addition to the penalty amount around Rs 30,000 already paid by him. The Court also said that the failure on part of the accused to deposit the fine will result in him undergoing one week of Simple Imprisonment.

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