MUMBAI: The MSEDCL has detected power theft to the tune of Rs 4.93 crore at an ice factory in Virar. An FIR was registered at Virar police station on November 4 against four directors of the firm, and a fifth person who helped them in the alleged pilferage.
An official said: “An MSEDCL team carried out a surprise check at the premises on October 30-31. The officials came across a few remote controls and gadgets which were being used to tamper with the electricity meter and to fudge the [power usage] readings. During a detailed probe in the first week of November, the officials found that the firm had pilfered 27.8 lakh units of electricity between November 2016 and October 2021. The total theft was valued at Rs 4.93 crore and an FIR was subsequently registered at Virar police station on November 4.” Notices have been issued for recovery of this sum along with a penalty.
The accused persons have been booked under section 138 (punishable action against the consumer when he has not himself broken the seal) and 150 (abetment of crime) under the Electricity Act, 2003.
Power theft is a major issue in localities where MSEDCL supplies electricity. In September, 127 electricity theft cases had been registered against consumers across Mumbai region in a massive check conducted against rigging of meters and keeping them constant at 0-30 units of consumption for several months. “This was a new modus operandi to show that there is some consumption which is low. We are now checking all meters which have 0 to 30 unit consumption to ensure that there is no rigging,” an official added.
Sources said that more than 3.3 lakh such meters with 0-30 units of reading have been checked by MSEDCL field staff so far.
The power utility firm has also noticed that those facing temporary disconnections across Mumbai metropolitan region due to non-payment of bills since April 2020 are resorting to power pilferage. Officials have been directed to get FIRs registered in most cases so there is stringent punishment for the offenders.
