Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): MP Madhya Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company Limited (MPMKVVCL) has framed charges of power theft against a farmer who had failed to pay his overdue bill.

The bill generated by the power distribution company (discom) showed outstanding overdues but the farmer instead was booked for power theft, a non-bailable offence.

In the bill issued to Jitendra, a farmer of   Prempura village under Sukhisewania power distribution centre, annual power charge was stated to be Rs 30,381 with state government grant of Rs 21,925.20. So the farmer was liable to pay Rs 3000 but the bill also showed the surcharge of Rs 33,422.48.

The farmer has failed to pay the dues to the discom, however the power distribution company has booked him for electricity theft. The electricity theft, registered under section 135 of the Electricity Act, addresses activities such as illegal connections, meter tampering, and other forms of unauthorized use of electricity.

The section aims to deter people from engaging in these practices by imposing severe penalties. Advocate Abhai Jain who appeared for Jitendra said, “When there is overdue against farmers, the discom should register a case for recovery of the dues, however, it is registering a case of power theft which is a non-bailable offense. Many farmers are making rounds of court for the bail.”

The advocate said to the farmer he finally got the bail. Hemant Ahirwar, MPMKVVCL Sukhisewania power distribution centre, said, “Generally, power theft is registered when farmers are found using more than one motor for irrigation under Section 135 of the Electricity Act.”

Meanwhile, Kamal Anjana, state president of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh said that there are many farmers in the state who are facing similar charges. Protest against this is being stages across the state and soon a dharna will be staged in Jabalpur, he added.    

“It is a big problem all across the state. As per the category of  Motors pump capacity, MPMKVVCL charges the farmers. Even if over dues are also shown in the bill, power theft cases are being registered against the farmers. The farmers are protesting across the state and will even stage a dharna at the MPMKVVCL office in Jabalpur in this regard.” -Kamal Anjana State president. Bharatiya Kisan Sangh