Over a Lakh In Penalty, Six Months’ RI for Power Theft

Bhopal

A special court in Lateri has sentenced Shriramgopal Sharma to six months’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 107,610 for electricity theft under Section 135 of the Electricity Act.

Sharma was sentenced by the court of special judge (Electricity) Kavita Deep Khare on October 25, after he was found guilty under Section 135 of the Electricity Act.

Advocate Keshav Babu Srivastava, appearing on behalf of the central region power distributor (MKVVCL), told the court that on February 28, 2020, an electricity checking team—comprising JE Jagdish Lodhi, lineman Salim Khan, line helper Arshad Khan, and Bablu Kushwaha—conducted an inspection at Sharma’s premises in the village of Masudi, under the Lateri distribution centre.

During the inspection, the team discovered that a five-horsepower flour mill was being operated without a legal connection. The mill was directly wired to the LT line. This illegal connection constituted theft of electricity.

Following the court’s judgement, the company is urging the public to obtain legal connections for their electricity needs, highlighting that unauthorized electricity theft is a punishable offence, carrying fines and potential imprisonment.