Pune: Electricity Theft Worth Rs 2 Crore Detected With Drone Assistance; Case Registered
Baramati, 1st September 2023: The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited’s Kedgaon department has apprehended Mukesh Agarwal, an individual involved in electricity theft.
Agarwal was found stealing electricity by illicitly connecting a large cable directly to the high-pressure switch, bypassing the closed meter due to unpaid electricity bills. MSEDCL has imposed a hefty fine of Rs 2 crore 4 lakhs on Agarwal, and a case has been filed at the Shikrapur police station.
Mukesh Omprakash Agarwal, residing in Agrasen Society, Koregaon Park, Pune, owns three separate companies in Sanswadi (Shirur taluka). Two of these companies, namely Thermolite Packaging India Pvt Ltd and M/s. Prakash Corrugated Pune Pvt. Ltd., are high-pressure consumers, while M/s Bhagwan Tube Pvt. Ltd. falls under the low-pressure category. All three companies share the same premises and are involved in the production of thermocol and cardboard products. The power supply to Thermolite Packaging India Pvt Ltd was permanently disconnected, and the power supply to the other two connections remained temporarily suspended due to unpaid bills.
Sandeep Darwade, the executive engineer of Kedgaon, received information that despite MSEDCL’s power supply termination, Agarwal had managed to resume direct power supply from the high-pressure transformer setup. Recognizing the significance of this electricity theft and facing resistance from the customer, Darwade reported the matter to Chief Engineer Sunil Pavde.
Chief Engineer Pavde authorized the use of drones to gather evidence of electricity theft. On August 25, Sandeep Darwade, accompanied by a team of eight, entered the premises under the guise of delivering a courier parcel. They initiated drone surveillance as evidence and, with identity cards, entered the premises to expose the power theft.
A fine of 1 crore 11 lakh 19 thousand 857 has been imposed on the customer M/s Prakash Corrugated Pune Pvt. Ltd. for the theft of 205606 units, while M/s Bhagwan Tube Pvt. Ltd. faces a fine of Rs 2 crore 4 lakh 79 thousand 988 for the theft of 234961 units.
Additionally, based on Executive Engineer Darwade’s complaint, a case of electricity theft and tampering with the electricity system has been registered at Shikrapur Police Station under Section 135 and 138 of the Indian Electricity Act 2003.
This successful operation was carried out under the leadership of Chief Engineer Sunil Pavde, with contributions from Superintending Engineer Mhasu Misal, Executive Engineer Sandeep Darwade, Additional Executive Engineer Kishore Shinde, Deputy Executive Engineer Nitin Mahajan, and six engineers, including Gauri Kalange and Balasaheb Tengle, along with Junior Engineers Srikanth Tatikonda, Janamitra Vishwanath Kindare, and Dnyaneshwar Ahirkar.
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