illegal resale of power worth Rs 21 crore exposed in Maharashtra
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Preliminary estimates showed that power worth Rs 21.63 crore was thus misused by the HT consumer, which is punishable under section 126 of the Electricity Act, 2003.
The vigilance department of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) has exposed misuse of electricity to the tune of Rs 21.63 crore by a high tension consumer at Yerawada. A statement issued by deputy director of MSEDCL's vigilance and safety department, Commander (retd) Shivaji Indalkar, stated that the vigilance team had received a tip-off about the high tension consumer illegally giving power connections from his own connection to various commercial consumers in a nearby commercial complex.

A vigilance team led by Hemant Nagarale, special inspector general of police of MSEDCL's vigilance department, raided the premises on March 4. "The team found that the high tension (HT) consumer had given several connections to commercial consumers from his own connection. Moreover, these commercial consumers were also given independent electricity meters and the HT consumer was issuing them bills and collecting money from them," Indalkar said in the statement.

Preliminary estimates showed that power worth Rs 21.63 crore was thus misused by the HT consumer, which is punishable under section 126 of the Electricity Act, 2003. A bill of the same amount has been issued to the HT consumer and further action is being taken as per the law, Indalkar stated.

During another raid, the vigilance team found that an industrial unit has given a connection to a nearby college from its own industrial connection. The misuse of power has been estimated at Rs 1.29 crore and a bill of this amount has been issued to the industrial unit. Further action is being taken under section 126.