Here’s an apparent titfor-tat that exposes both warring sides. A day after the traffic police challaned some vehicles of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited ( PSPCL) and others, the PSPCL woke up to power theft at the traffic police station.
The corporation has slapped a rs 75,000 fine on the senior superintendent of police (SSP), Patiala, and also written for registration of a case, purportedly to avenge the challaning of its vehicles which had window curtains in violation of Supreme Courtmandated norms. The challenged vehicles included one of a superintending engineer. “A total load of 6 kilowatts — two air-conditioners, a heater and other equipment — running illegally, bypassing the metered connection was detected by the PSPCL raiding team [at the police station]. A fine of ` 75,000 has been imposed and, as per provisions of the Electricity Act, a letter for registration of power theft FIR has been dispatched to the Anti-Power Theft Police Station, Patiala,” said Balbir Singh Sidhu, superintending engineer, PSPCL, Patiala. The FIR has been recommended against the SSP as the connection was in his name.
Sidhu claimed, however, that he was not aware of challaning of any PSPCL vehicles: “We acted on the basis of secret information, and the raid found the information correct. There is not an iota of bias, as the raid was conducted in full public view, in the presence of police personnel.” He underlined that the FIR is mandatory as per the Electricity Act, 2003.
{{/usCountry}}Sidhu claimed, however, that he was not aware of challaning of any PSPCL vehicles: “We acted on the basis of secret information, and the raid found the information correct. There is not an iota of bias, as the raid was conducted in full public view, in the presence of police personnel.” He underlined that the FIR is mandatory as per the Electricity Act, 2003.
{{/usCountry}}But the traffic police incharge, inspector Pusha Devi, who had challaned the vehicles on Tuesday, was curt, “The act of the PSPCL officials is full of mala fide intention. The traffic police challaned several government and private vehicles that had curtains on windows, as the Supreme Court has passed a ruling for it.” She said she was not aware how many PSPCL officials were challaned, “but there certainly were some”.
Reiterating that the PSPCL action was “full of malice”, she claimed there was a legal connection at the police station and no power theft.