New Delhi, November 30, 2007

Press Release

Marriage Pandal owner (Tentwala) remanded to Judicial Custody

• Marriage Pandal contractor remanded to Judicial Custody for 7 days
• The contractor was earlier caught by BSES Enforcement Teams solemnizing a marriage using 30 KW of stolen power
• When the contractor failed to deposit the penalty amount within the stipulated timeframe, a case was filed in the Special Court

The Marriage pandal was exquisitely decorated! The bride’s family had spent their hard earned money on the decorations and the exotic food. The pandal was well lit - complete with chandeliers, focus lights, spot lights and mast halogen lights. The marriage was in full swing. The Baratis were dancing to the latest Bollywood numbers. Just then arrived members of BSES’ Enforcement Teams.

This may look like a scene straight out of a Bollywood blockbuster – but it was a real life scene near House Number 461, near Handa School, Dalhai Mohalla Nath Nagar, Bhola Nath Nagar in East Delhi on the night of December 14, 2006. The BSES Enforcement Team had caught the contractor Tej Pal, responsible for erecting the fateful marriage pandal, red-handed.

Infact, the tip off for the power theft had been left on BSES’ anti theft numbers 39999777/39999888 about a marriage being solemnised on stolen power. Immediately a BSES team descended on the venue. The marriage contactor, infact had been ready for such an eventuality, and had tried to make arrangements to conceal this power theft. During the course of the inspection, the pandal contractor (tentwala) was found to be stealing over 30 KW of electricity by directly hooking from BSES’ LV Mains.

Subsequently the tentwala was penalised in according to the provisions of the Indian Electricity Act, 2003. When the accused failed to deposit the penalty in the stipulated time frame, a case was filed in the Special Court. After hearing the arguments in the case, the Special Court remanded the tentawala to judicial custody for 7 days.

“Marriages in Delhi are very pompous and colourful and lakhs of rupees are spent on the arrangements and decorations. A little oversight can prove to be costly, as in this case. Customers are advised to ensure that the contractor hired by them has taken legitimate electricity connection as to avoid embarrassments at a later date”, said a BSES official.

Power theft is a criminal offence and anyone caught stealing faces charges under section/s 135,138 and 150 of the Electricity Act, 2003. These offences carry an imprisonment of upto three years, fine or both

“People are requested not to steal electricity during such auspicious functions. BSES has made arrangements to provide tatkal electricity connections for such occasions. Customers are advised to contact the nearest BRPL / BYPL office for details regarding the same”, said a BSES official.

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