PSPCL officers caught electricity theft in 45 houses of Ludhiana CRPF Colony, imposed 25 lakh fine

Ludhiana: Power theft is being done on a large scale by putting ‘kundi’ (key lock) in CRPF colony. When Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) received a complaint, the officers sent 10 teams to raid on Tuesday morning. The teams raided the LIG flats part of CRPF colony and detected power theft in more than 45 houses. PSPCL will now recover a fine of Rs 25 lakh from those who steal power by putting locks and will also get FIR registered against them.

During the raid, PSPCL detected direct power theft in 37 houses, while illegal use of electricity was detected in 8 houses. PSPCL had received a complaint a few days ago that power theft is being done on a large scale by putting locks in CRPF colony. After receiving the information, PSPCL officers conducted a recce in the colony and after that, before 7 am on Tuesday, 10 teams were formed and they raided together. PSPCL officers also took a heavy police force with them for the raid so that miscreants could be dealt with in case of protest.

The raid was led by XEN Amandeep Singh. When the teams of PSPCL enforcement wing raided, it was found that in some houses the electricity supply was bypassed from the meter, while most of the people had connected the electricity supply to the main wires or open joints outside in the street. The teams of PSPCL enforcement wing did the load assessment of the houses where electricity was stolen, according to which a fine of Rs 25 lakh has been imposed on them.

During the raid, people first tried to protest but due to the large number of police deployed, the officers remained engaged in their action. PSPCL officers said that the teams had conducted the raid for routine check-up. A large number of cases of electricity theft were detected in the raid. SE Baljinder Singh Sandhu of the enforcement wing said that legal action will also be taken against the consumers in whose houses electricity theft was detected in the raid. He said that the final assessment of the fine will be done by Wednesday and after that a FIR will be registered.