BSES Bhawan, Nehru Place, New Delhi – 110019.    Phone - 39999999

New Delhi, September 3, 2005:

PRESS RELEASE

FIR lodged against Copper Wire manufacturer;

 caught red-handed stealing power once again by vigilant BSES Enforcement Team

During a raid conducted at Friends Colony, Shahdara on the night of September 2, 2005 BSES Enforcement team came across large scale theft of electricity at Plot No. 13, Gali No. 2, Friends Colony, Shahdara.

The accused, Rakesh Gupta and K.K. Gupta, were resorting to theft of electricity using high capacity Teflon wires to tap electricity directly from the nearby BSES LV mains to run a Copper wire manufacturing unit. The load which was found running directly was assessed to be of 192 KW which calls for a penalty bill amounting to Rs. 2.5 Crore as per the DERC Regulations.

During the raid police force from control room as well as local police station were called at site as the accused and their accomplices kept vigil from a distance during the whole operation. Enforcement team collected all relevant evidences and prepared inspection report and seizure memo which were later deposited with the police and an FIR was lodged at the Dilshad Garden Police Station.

It is pertinent to mention here that the same accused were booked exactly one year ago also when they were indulging in theft of electricity. A penalty bill of Rs. 2,33,22,114/- was raised against which the accused filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court.

During the hearing in the Delhi High Court the accused denied any connection with the premises and consequently, the theft. The Hon’ble High Court, however, issued a stern warning saying that in case the allegation is proved the Court will take strict action against them. As per the provision of the Electricity Act, 2003 a criminal complaint was also filed at the Special Court convened for adjudication of such matters. The Special Court has already issued summons against the accused and the trial is under process.

The BSES spokesperson lauding the efforts of the companies enforcement team said, “BSES Enforcement teams are carrying out raids even at odd hours of night despite   hostility and the risk of bodily harm being done to them in the line of duty. All this just to ensure that the National Capital Territory of Delhi, soon becomes a zero power theft zone. Our enforcement teams are determined that the people indulging in such illegal activites are brought to book so that there is no loss to the exchequer and honest consumers do not have to bear the brunt of power tariff hikes”

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