The resolve and steadfastness on the part of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) in vigorously pursuing a case of power theft against the owner of an industrial unit made him deposit Rs 23.62 lakh after a local court directed that the accused should deposit 50 per cent of the penalty amount before being granted bail.According to PSPCL Chief Engineer/Central Zone Daljit Inderpal Singh Grewal, the power theft by Jaswinder Singh, who runs an industrial unit on Sua Road, Kanganwal, here, through direct cable from the fuse unit of a transformer was detected by Estate Division under Ludhiana West Circle on November 21. The consumer, having sanctioned load of 95 KW, was slapped a penalty of Rs 56.44 lakh, including a compounding fee of Rs 9.20 lakh.
After imposition of penalty, a criminal complaint (FIR) was also lodged with the Anti-Power Theft Police Station (of PSPCL) and the consumer was liable to be arrested for the offence of power theft.The PSPCL Superintending Engineer (Operations, West) said as the consumer approached a civil court, the power utility also filed a caveat and the consumer could not manage to secure bail. The offer made by the offender to deposit 25 per cent amount of penalty was also turned down by the court after the PSPCL took a stand that in cases of theft (direct kundi connection) 50 per cent amount of penalty was required to be deposited by the defaulting consumer for obtaining bail.
Accordingly, the consumer deposited Rs 23,62,500 on December 18. [THE TRIBUNE]
