Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 6 : In a significant action against electricity theft, the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Department has initiated a recovery process amounting to over ₹1.28 crore against close aides and relatives of Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan.
Chief Engineer of the Electricity Transmission Division, Gyan Prakash, confirmed that several individuals in Bareilly were booked under Section 135 of the Electricity Act, 2003, for directly stealing power through illegal connections.
Gyan Prakash said, "...On the 30th, I got information about it...We caught seven people in the raid...We have caught a theft of 77 kilowatts (of electricity). An FIR has been registered under the Electricity Act, 2003, and a fine of Rs. 1,12,00,000 has been imposed. Whoever commits the theft will face strict action...I appeal to all those who were caught to pay the fine; otherwise, they will be required to pay the fine through recovery. If they don't, legal proceedings will be done..."
According to the department, the individuals accused of electricity theft have not yet deposited the assessed amount. Notices (R.C.) have been issued against them under Section 5 of the U.P. Public Demands Recovery Act, 1958, with a total recoverable amount exceeding ₹1 crore 28 lakh.
Among those against whom recovery certificates have been issued are:
Wasim Khan, son of Haji Mulla Liaqat, Surkha Bankhana, Bareilly: ₹15,39,046.00
Monish Khan, son of Hasan Miya, Surta Bankhana, Bareilly: ₹22,29,709.00
Barkan Raza Khan, son of Babu Khan, Surkha Bankhana, Bareilly: ₹37,32,339.00
Ghulam Navi, son of Sarwar Ali, Gaddiwala Chak Mahmood, PS Baradari, Bareilly: ₹26,57,065.00
Aman Raza Khan, son of Mohammad Nadeem, Surkha Bankhana, Bareilly: ₹26,92,628.00
All of them are reported to be close associates and relatives of Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan.
Meanwhile, Maulana Tauqeer's relative Mohammad Raza has also been fined crores in a separate case related to an illegal charging station.
The Electricity Department stated that strict recovery proceedings will be undertaken as part of efforts to boost revenue.
Earlier on Sunday, the Bareilly Development Authority (BDA) sealed the residence of Mohd Farhat Khan and shops belonging to Mohd Nadeem at Noumahla Masjid, as part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal constructions linked to the recent violence in the city.
Both men are accused of the September 26 Bareilly violence that erupted over the 'I Love Muhammad' poster row. They are known to be close aides of Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, who has been identified as a key figure behind the unrest.