Under the direction of Principal Secretary, Energy Department, Avinash Kumar, a statewide intensive investigation campaign was conducted on Friday to check illegal use of electricity. During this a total of 3,175 premises were raided statewide by Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Limited.

During the raids, cases of load related to energy theft / unauthorized load were found in about 782 premises across the State and FIR has been lodged against the concerned consumers under the Indian Electricity Act 2003 in the respective police stations, along with a fine of Rs 154.48 lakh recovered. The Principal Secretary directed that such surprise campaigns would continue in future also and strictest legal action would be taken against the person involved in theft of electricity.

It may be noted that Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Limited is making continuous efforts to prevent theft of electricity and under this effort, one-day raids were conducted at the State level. In the raid, maximum cases of unauthorised load and energy theft were found in Daltonganj, while a total of 234 premises were investigated in the Capital Ranchi, out of which 56 people were booked and a fine of Rs 11.49 lakh was imposed. Raids were conducted in about 15 districts of the State. The General Manager of the Corporation informed that in this raid operation, which lasted from 6 am to 5 pm, action was taken under the direction of APT team of Headquarters as well as Management-Chairman cum Managing Director and Additional Director General of Police, Vigilance and Security.

Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Limited has appealed to all the citizens for the prevention of theft of electricity that the information of the people who are stealing energy can be done on the email id of the headquarters - aptjseb@gmail.com, the name of the informers will be kept secret.