Reliance Energy’s vigilance team has busted a high-tech power theft case in Kandivli. According to sources at the company, electricity was being stolen after the power meter was disabled with the help of a remote control device, the circuit of which was detected on the meter printed circuit board (PCB). The team has nabbed the owner of a small-scale firm from Kandivli West for power theft.
A Reliance Energy spokesperson said, “As per our assessment, around 31,741 units of electricity worth R7, 50,052, has been pilfered by the accused. We feel this might be a big racket and the people helping him could have sold such remote controls to others as well.”
Jafer Mutalif Panjikuti
The accused has been identified as Islam Khan and a complaint against him has been lodged with the Kandivli police.
The spokesperson said the thief was caught red-handed. “During a meter testing, it was observed that a remote control circuit with the help of a remote device was controlling the energy-recording system. Despite the industrial unit working round-the-clock, for the past five-six months, there was a drop in electricity consumption as the accused Khan had been operating through remote control device to lower the meter readings. Our loss is currently at 8.6 per cent (average distribution loss) per month as on date.”
