Gurgaon: Power theft detected at at the homes of three policemen

The discom imposed a fine of ₹1.22 lakh on the defaulting Gurgaon policemen

A vigilance team of Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitaran Nigam (DHBVN) detected power theft at residences of three police officials at recruitment training colony (RTC) located near Bhondsi jail early on Monday.

CM Manohar Lal Khattar had promised strong action against state officials found drawing power illegally. (File Photo)

The discom later slapped a fine of ₹1.22 lakh on defaulters. The fine, officials said, would have to be paid within 24 hours failing which, legal action would be initiated. The trio are of head constable rank.

Manpal Dhull, sub-divisional officer (SDO), DHBVN who headed the vigilance team in early hours of the day, said three police officers were drawing power illegally from a high voltage line passing by the houses. Dhull said the three officials had electricity meters installed at their homes, but they were drawing power illegally at night.

Sanjiv Chopra, chief engineer (CE), Smart Grid Project (DHBVN-Gurgaon), said, “We will lodge police complaints against the defaulters on Tuesday. If they pay fine, the complaints will be withdrawn. However, our vigilance teams are working round the clock to crack down on power theft in government localities.”

“We have not received any complaint of power theft until now,” said an official at Bhondsi police station.

Earlier on April 25, the DHBVN’s vigilance team had lodged FIRs against 13 police officers for illegal electricity connections and found five other officers guilty of meter tampering. The meters were sent for laboratory test at Police Lines colony, which is located near the Gurgaon Civil Hospital.

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The power theft and line loss have been a prime concern for the Haryana government, as it has been causing long hours of outages across the state.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, on April 29, had directed officers of the power utilities to keep an eye on the homes of politicians and senior state officials to ensure electricity is not pilfered.

“If politicians and officials are guilty of drawing power illegally and robbing the state exchequer, the law should come down heavily on them as it does on ordinary people who indulge in power theft. The law is the same for every one. No one is above the law,” the CM said.