More trouble for Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Barq: Sambhal violence accused now booked for power theft

The electricity department reported several irregularities related to the power supply at Sambhal MP Ziaur Rahman Barq's residence.

Written by Amit Sharma
Meerut | Updated: December 20, 2024 03:39 AM IST

3 min read

Sambhal Electricity Theft SP MP Ziaur Rahman Barq

Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Barq was earlier booked for allegedly instigating protesters during the violence that had broken out in the area on November 24. (File Photo)

The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) on Thursday morning booked Samajwadi Party’s Sambhal MP Ziaur Rahman Barq for alleged power theft. The Sambhal police had previously booked Barq for allegedly instigating protesters during the violence that broke out in Sambhal on November 24 in connection with a court-ordered survey of Shahi Jama Masjid.

Santosh Tripathi, Sub Divisional Officer (SDO), Sambhal, said, “The MP has been charged under Section 135 of the Indian Electricity Act, 1948, for power theft. He resides in a three-storey house in the Deepa Sarai locality. Upon inspecting the property, we found only two 2-kilowatt capacity electricity meters, whereas a house of that size typically requires at least 8 to 10 kilowatts to run its appliances. We have removed both meters and served a notice to the MP.”

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A team from the local electricity department, accompanied by a heavy police presence, arrived at the MP’s house at 7 am on Thursday and stayed for one hour. They reported discovering several irregularities related to the power supply at the residence.

Also Read | Day after raids, ‘power theft worth Rs 1.3 crore by 4 mosques, 1 madrassa’ unearthed in Sambhal, claims district administration

“The electricity meter registered in the name of the MP has shown a reading of zero for the last six months, since July of this year. During the other months of the year, the meter reading never exceeded one hundred units. The house has fans, air conditioners, and other electrical equipment, so a zero reading on the meter is simply unbelievable,” said Tripathi.

Officials check electricity meter at Barq’s residence in Sambhal, Thursday. (PTI)

Vandana Mishra, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Sambhal, stated that the raid at the MP’s house today was part of an ongoing effort against illegal power connections. “There is no question of bias in this regard,” she said.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shrish Chandra said the power corporation employees requested police assistance before conducting the raid at the MP’s house, and the police ensured their safety during the operation.

Qasim Jamal, the lawyer for the MP, stated that the house has two meters, each with a capacity of four kilowatts. “In addition to the two meters, the house is equipped with a 5-kilowatt generator and a 10-kilowatt solar panel. We will present these facts in court,” said the lawyer.

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The MP was unavailable for a comment as he was engaged in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.