Special force to help BEST curb power theft

The state government on Wednesday undertook to provide a special police force to assist Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking in curb ing electricity theft.

The state government on Wednesday undertook to provide a special police force to assist Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking in curb ing electricity theft.

A division bench of Justices Ranjana Desai and V K Tahilramani was hearing a petition that was later converted into a PIL filed by residents of Musafirkhana,alleging that the BEST had threatened to disconnect their power connection instead of taking action against those stealing electricity from their meters. BEST had stated there are no special courts to try electricity theft cases and most cases end up in acquittal.

The state had earlier asked the petitioner to implead BMC as a party to the petition. Public prosecutor P A Pol on Wednesday submitted that he had a meeting with the concerned deputy commissioner of police as well as the BMC and BEST officials and reached a decision by which the police will assist BEST in curbing such activities. Pol,however,told the court that the commissioner of police will be taking a final decision regarding the assistance after going through the modalities. Pol stated that according to BEST officers such a move will help them save Rs 200 crore every year. The petition has been disposed of.

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