Adani Electricity Mumbai Ltd (AEML), in a release, said that its vigilance team has unearthed a major power theft case in a Mumbai suburb.
AEML said that the case, involving Rs.1.09 crore worth of power theft, was made against one Crohast Plastic Moulding Mfg. Ltd, running a plastic moulding business at Andheri (East), in suburban Mumbai.
The power utility has booked direct supply case under Section 135 of Electricity Act 2003. In this regard the team has filed an FIR on July 15, 2023, at Kherwadi Police Station against the owner of moulding business and registered AEML consumer. The case has now been transferred from Kherwadi Police Station to MIDC Andheri Police station for further investigation.
Modus operandi
The AEML vigilance team noticed suspicious activities against Crohast Plastic Molding Mfg Ltd but were not able to gather proof. This time, with proper planning, the team raided the site on July 13,2023 and cracked a case of “direct supply”, where three-phase direct supply connection was taken from source and extended in Crohast Plastic Molding up to a changeover switch.
The consumer was using changeover switch to divert meter supply to direct supply and vice versa. Direct supply was being taken for load of 58kW. During the raid the team faced numerous obstacles including attempts to obstruct and manhandling of team members. Despite their resistance, the team managed to gather evidence and book the case under Section 135 of Electricity Act 2003.
Assessed theft
The assessment was done for 5,61,598 units (kwh) for a period of four years and seven months for around Rs.1.09 crore.
Also read: AEML Adjudged Best Utility In Power Ministry’s Rating Exercise
Second major case
Speaking on the power theft case, an AEML spokesperson said, “This is second case of large theft our vigilance has unearthed within a month. In June 2023, the team detected power theft case of Rs.1.33 crore against Jaini Traders, operating an electroplating business in Kurar village, Malad illegally using a three-phase direct supply. We congratulate the team for cracking again such huge amount of power theft and are proud of their courage, commitment, and dedication.”
