Sambhal MP Ziaur Rahman gets booked over alleged power theft

Lucknow: In a case of alleged power theft, the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) booked Sambhal MP Ziaur Rahman Barq on Thursday. The MP is already booked by the state police for allegedly inciting violence during the court-ordered survey of Shahi Jama Masjid on November 4, The Indian Express reported.

Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) Sambhal Santosh Tripathi said that the MP had been charged under Section 135 of the Indian Electricity Act, 1948, for power theft. The official claimed that upon inspection of the MP’s house, they found that he is using only two 2-kilowatt capacity electricity meters for his three-storey building while at least 8 to 10 kilowatts are needed to run appliances in the house. He added that the officials removed the meters and served the MP notice.

On Thursday, a team of power officials, accompanied by heavy police strength, visited the MP's house at 7 am and stayed for an hour to inspect. The team reported several irregularities related to the power supply in the house.

Tripathi continued that the electricity meter registered in the name of the MP showed a reading of zero for the last six months, and during the previous months, the readings did not exceed one hundred units.

The house has fans, air conditioners, and other electrical equipment, and therefore, the zero reading cannot be accepted, the SDO Tripathi said,

Meanwhile, the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Sambhal Vandana Mishra said that the raid at the MP’s house on the day was part of an effort against illegal power connections in the state.