FIR Against Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq For Electricity Theft (image: x.com/barq_zia)
Meerut, Uttar Pradesh: The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) on Thursday registered an FIR against Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Barq from Sambhal in an alleged power theft at his residence. Interestingly, Barq serves as the the Chairman of the District Electricity Committee.
Along with UP Power Corporation’s team local police, Rapid Action Force, and PAC jawans arrived at MP’s house. They located several irregularities in connection with the power supply at the residence. As per NDTV reports, a huge fine of Rs. 1.91 crore was issued by the electricity department officials after locating tampering with two electricity meters at the MP’s residence.
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The FIR is registered at Nakhasa Anti Power Theft police station under section 135 of the Indian Electricity Act. In the complaint, Santosh Tripathi, Sub Divisional Officer (SDO), Sambhal, stated that the MP has a domestic power connection of 2 kiloWatt (kW) capacity electricity meters. but the three-storey house in which he resides normally requires at least 8 to 10 KW for using heavy appliances. The department found that the available electricity connection was one-eighth of the load.
“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,” Indian Express reports, as Tripathi is saying.
They have also found that the electricity bill at the MP’s residence has been zero for the last six months. The officials said that electricity connection at the MP’s house was cut off, NDTV reports.
Meanwhile, MP’s lawyer, Qasim Jamal denied allegations of power theft in the house. “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,” lawyer said.
