INDORE: In a unique case of domestic power theft, a consumer in Discom‘s Daly College zone was found to have installed a switch and separate circuit board inside his bedroom to steal power from the main supply line.
The officials of Madhya Pradesh Paschim Kehstra Vidyut Vitaran Ltd discovered the set-up during a surprise check late on Saturday.

Discom officials said that a vigilance team was sent to Azad Nagar area after they got a tip-off regarding the theft.

“The theft was discovered after thoroughly checking supply lines inside the house of Mohammed Nafis. There was no pulse in the electricity meter while lights of the house were on,” said Bhaskar Ghosh, an assistant engineer with discom’s Daly College zone.

This raised suspicion of meter tampering or installation of a separate line. “While checking supply line of the house, our team spotted a special set-up inside bedroom with help of which the consumer was controlling the meter reading,” he said.Officials are also suspecting involvement of electricians, who offer to install such set-up to control units consumed.

The consumer’s bill along with the penalty for stealing power through separate switching arrangement was calculated to be around Rs50,000.

Discom officials also seized the electricity meter and supply cable from the house and the consumer has been instructed to pay the bill along with penalty within a week. “A case would be registered against the consumer if he fails to pay the penalty and bill,” they said.

Officials said that such practice is rampant all across the city wherein people with help of technicians install set-up with a separate neutral line or switching arrangement to manipulate pulse.