The Uttar Pradesh Power Department, on Friday, imposed Rs 1.91 crores as a fine over allegations of electricity theft, on Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq.
This is an aftermath of the Uttar Pradesh Police booking the SP MP for an alleged theft of electricity at his house in the Deepa Sarai area of Sambhal.
On Thursday, Power Department officials, with high security, raided Barq's residence after suspecting the electricity meter was being tampered with. In their inspection, they found that two electricity meters were being operated in an irregular manner.
During the raid, irregularities were detected in two electricity meters installed at the MP's house. The investigation revealed that electricity usage was zero in the last one year, where there was consumption of air conditioner, ceiling fan, and all other electric appliances.
Santosh Kumar Tripathi, SDO of the department, confirmed the findings, but did not comment further unless the entire inquiry was concluded.
Meanwhile, Barq's lawyer, Advocate Kasim Jamal, said that the house is equipped with air conditioners, ceiling fans, lights, and a refrigerator and they pay the minimum charges based on the department's assessment and that the house is also equipped with solar panels.
Officials found that the electricity consumption for the past year was marked as zero, which made the suspicions more intense. The police lodged a case against the MP based on these findings.
The electricity department had also replaced old meters at Barq's residence by sealing them and sending them to the laboratory for examination.
The house measures 200 square yards and initially was fitted with a 4-kilowatt meter, which later was found inadequate for its consumption needs.
In this regard, an FIR has also been lodged against Mamluk Ur Rehman Barq, father of the SP MP, at the Nakhasa police station. He has been accused of threatening officials of the Power Department during the inspection.
Santosh Tripathi lodged the complaint under Sections 352, 351(2), and 132 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
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