Rs 5 crore recovered from offenders during intensified drives in 2021-22
Nagpur: The MSEDCL detected 3149 cases of power theft and recovered Rs 5 crore from the offenders in Nagpur Zone in 2021-22.
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06 May 2025
Faced with the power crisis, the Nagpur Zone of state distribution utility launched a drive against the power pilferers. The MSEDCL will continue the drive in the next few days and has appealed to power users to refrain from taking illegal connections.
The Nagpur Zone has three circles Nagpur Urban, Nagpur Rural and Wardha. Maximum number of cases were detected in Nagpur Rural — 1,498 and minimum in Nagpur Urban. According to MSEDCL sources, the power thieves tamper with the energy meter to reduce their power bills. They install a magnet or a chip for this. Remote devices are also used. MSEDCL registers cases under Section 135 of Electricity Act against such persons.
The offenders have to pay twice the meter reading amount as a punishment. In addition, industrial consumers are fined Rs 10,000 per KWHP, commercial — Rs 5000, domestic — Rs 2,000 and agricultural — Rs 1.000. If the crime is proved in the court then the imprisonment can be up to three years. MSEDCL registered a case under Section 150 of Electricity Act against persons who help the power thieves in tampering meters.
MSEDCL took action against 3,044 persons, who were drawing power through hooks. An amount of Rs 3.1 crore was recovered from them. Police cases were registered against 34 such persons.
