Published on: March 25, 2025
By: [BTI]
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
Rajnandgaon, March 24, 2025 – The Special District Court (Electricity Act) in Rajnandgaon has sentenced Motilal Banjare, a resident of Dharampur Village, to two months of simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹10,000 for electricity theft under Section 135 of the Electricity Act. In case of non-payment of the fine, an additional one-month simple imprisonment will be enforced.
Court Ruling on Commercial Electricity Theft Case
The court, presided over by Special Judge Shri Thomas Ekka, found Motilal Banjare guilty of illegally connecting his welding shop to a nearby electric pole using direct hooking. The accused utilized 5655 watts of unauthorized electricity, causing a theft amounting to ₹7,86,500.
“The accused has been convicted under Section 135 of the Electricity Act and sentenced to two months of imprisonment and a monetary penalty of ₹10,000,” the court ruled.
Details of the Incident
- The Vigilance Wing of the Chhattisgarh State Electricity Distribution Company was conducting an anti-theft drive.
- On November 2, 2018, the team caught Motilal Banjare red-handed while welding and using appliances like fans and lights powered directly from a pole near his house.
- The inspection team included:
- Assistant Engineer Sunita Dhruv
- Line Operator Devprakash Patel
- Lineman Santu Thakur
- Chief Security Guard Chandrabhan Thakur
The vigilance team documented the incident, prepared a site inspection report and submitted a formal complaint at Lalbagh Police Station on November 5, 2019.
Legal Proceedings and Evidence Presented
Following the complaint:
- A billing sheet charging ₹7,86,500 was issued to the accused.
- Executive Engineer (Operations/Maintenance) Rajnandgaon authorized further legal action.
- On December 5, 2019, an official complaint under Section 135 was filed in the Special Court.
During the court proceedings:
- The accused denied the charges and did not present any witnesses.
- The prosecution presented complete evidence, leading the court to deliver a guilty verdict.
Vigilance Team’s Anti-Theft Campaign Intensifies
The vigilance team has been actively pursuing electricity theft cases across the region, focusing on illegal connections and hooking cases, ensuring strict legal actions against violators.
FAQ Section
What was Motilal Banjare convicted for?
He was convicted for electricity theft by directly hooking into a power pole, causing a loss of ₹7,86,500.
What is the penalty under Section 135 of the Electricity Act?
Under Section 135, the accused received a two-month simple imprisonment and a ₹10,000 fine, with an additional month of imprisonment in case of non-payment.
Who investigated the electricity theft case?
The vigilance team of the Chhattisgarh State Electricity Distribution Company, including engineers and security personnel, investigated the case.
