Dec 19, 2024 04:36 PM IST
UPPCL authorities have intensified efforts to curb energy theft and encroachment within the Muslim-dominated Deepa Sarai locality since December 13.
Samajwadi Celebration’s Sambhal MP Zia-ur Rehman Barq was on Thursday booked by the Uttar Pradesh Police for allegedly stealing electrical energy at his residence within the Deepa Sarai neighbourhood, officers mentioned.
Samajwadi Celebration MP Zia ur Rahman Barq. (PTI Photograph)
“A case of power theft has been registered against MP Zia-ur Rehman Barq on the complaint of electricity department officials on Thursday morning. The complaint was filed by the officials concerned from the electricity department following an inspection done at the MP’s residence,” Sambhal superintendent of police KK Bishnoi confirmed.
The FIR, based mostly on a written grievance by sub divisional officer (SDO) Santosh Tripathi, assistant engineer (meter) Ashish Kataria, and junior engineers Ajay Kumar Sharma and BK Gangal of the electrical energy division, claimed that the MP’s 2-kilowatt (kW) connection was illegally bypassed, permitting unauthorised consumption of 16.48 kW of electrical energy. Part 135 of the Indian Electrical energy Act (Modification) 2003 has additionally been slapped on the Samajwadi Celebration MP, the police mentioned.
Officers mentioned the inspection was a part of an ongoing drive in opposition to energy theft.
“Our team that raided Zia-ur Rehman Barq’s house in Sambhal discovered that the house was using a load of 16 kW, far exceeding the sanctioned 2 kW across two connections. One connection of 2 kW was registered under the name of his grandfather and late former MP Shafiq-ur Rehman Barq, while the other of was on his own name. Additionally, the meter was found to be bypassed and was showing a reading of zero,” mentioned UPPCL govt engineer of Sambhal Naveen Kumar Gautam.
They noticed the bypass throughout a Meter Studying Instrument (MRI) evaluation.
Notably, the UPPCL authorities have intensified efforts to curb energy theft and encroachment within the Muslim-dominated Deepa Sarai locality since December 13. Over 200 circumstances of energy theft have been registered, leading to penalties exceeding over ₹2 crore.
The drive in opposition to energy theft has sparked a political storm within the area, with opposition leaders questioning the administration’s motives, whereas residents of the locality stay cautious of additional raids.
On Wednesday, the SP MP filed a writ petition within the Allahabad excessive court docket searching for a keep on his arrest in reference to an FIR lodged in opposition to him over the November 24 violence throughout protests in opposition to the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal; he additionally requested the quashing of the FIR.
See extra
Information / Cities / Lucknow / FIR filed in opposition to SP’s Sambhal MP Zia-ur Rehman Barq over ‘power theft’