Power theft accused absconding; one held

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

AURANGABAD, Sept 8: Most of the 22 proprietors of Jalna's seven mini-steel plants accused of massive power theft detected in Monday's raids by the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) are absconding following the rejection of their plea for anticipatory bail by the Sessions Court. One of them, however, has been arrested in Aurangabad, Jalna Superintendent of Police, Deven Bharati, told Express Newsline. The accused escaped despite searches of their residences last night, he said.
The MSEB has conclusive proof of the Rs 20-crore power theft, with video tapes recording the evidence, which includes extremely sophisticated equipment the steel plants used to doctor their electricity meters. The instruments used have also been seized, police officials said.
The theft, the largest ever, was detected in simultaneous raids by the electricity board officials on Monday, on seven mini-steel plants and 25 re-rolling mills.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.

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