Penalised for power theft
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 24 2018: Special Judge Electricity Imphal West, remanded two individuals for alleged electricity theft and causing loss of Rs 11,06,913,60 and Rs 11, 57, 340 to the company today.

The Court also fixed February 6 for considering the charges levelled against the two individuals aside from cancelling their bail applications filed through their respective counsels.

The two individuals, identified as Thoudam Ibohal s/o (L) Bira of Naorem Leikai and Sarungbam Sirjent s/o S Bihari of Singjamei Mayengbam Leikai, were produced before the Court by a team of Singjamei police station, along with the charge sheets.

The Court took stock of the case and provided the relevant papers to the counsels of the accused individuals, who also filed an application to release the accused on bail.

During the hearing, the APP submitted that yesterday at around 4.10 pm, the Manager of Singjamei Sub Division, MSPDCL, Wangkhem Naba, lodged a complaint stating during the inspection of the residence of Thoudam Ibohal at Naorem Leikai at around 2.30 pm the same day, the authorised inspecting officers found that the individual was stealing electricity bypassing the prepaid meter.

The complaint further stated that Thoudam Ibohal had caused a loss of around Rs 11,06,913.60 to the company.

As such he was arrested by the police from his residence at around 5.10 pm and his statement was recorded.

The APP further submitted that the Manager lodged another complaint stating that the same team inspected the residence of Sarungbam Sirjent at around 2 pm the same day, and found that he was also stealing electricity by bypassing the prepaid meter.

As the theft cost the company around Rs 11,57,340 in revenue, he was hauled up by the police at around 4.40 pm and his statement was recorded as well.

The Court heard the submissions of both the APP and the defense counsels and also went through the case record, before deciding that such kind of electricity theft is a very serious offence in Manipur where there is constant shortage of electricity and hence cancelled the bail applications filed by the two individuals.

The Court further fixed February 6 for the charge consideration against the two individuals.

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