Rajura: Case against Charli man for power theft after connection was cut over dues

Police in Rajura, Chandrapur district, have registered a case against a man from Charli village in a power theft case. He is accused of drawing electricity by hooking a wire onto the main power line even after his connection was disconnected over unpaid bills. The action follows a complaint by an assistant engineer of Mahavitaran, under Section 135 of the Electricity Act, 2003.

According to the complaint, Venkatesh Kistanna Naramwar, assistant engineer of Mahavitaran's Rajura Rural sub-division, visited Charli village with his staff on July 10, 2026. They were conducting a routine check of customers with unpaid dues and those whose power had been cut. During this, they inspected the electricity connection of Uddhav S. Sontakke of the village. The connection, bearing consumer number 455870001204, showed old arrears of Rs 7,560.

The complaint states that Mahavitaran had already disconnected power to this connection because of the arrears. Even so, the inspection found electricity being drawn illegally and directly through a hook wire on the main low-tension power line.

Rakumabai Uddhav Sontakke, who was present at the spot during the inspection, told the Mahavitaran team that the electricity was actually being used by Santosh Uddhav Sontakke. The team prepared a panchnama at the spot and calculated the theft at 0.072 kW load, with electricity worth Rs 1,330 stolen.

As per the rules, an assessment bill was raised for the stolen electricity. According to the complaint, the user was also given ample time and extensions to pay it. However, despite repeated extensions, the accused did not deposit any amount of the penalty bill with Mahavitaran.

After the bill was not paid in time and, as alleged, the power theft continued, Assistant Engineer Naramwar filed a written complaint at Rajura police station on October 6. On this complaint, Rajura police registered a case against the accused, Santosh Uddhav Sontakke, a resident of Charli, under Section 135 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The wire used in the theft has been seized and deposited at the Mahavitaran office.

Police Constable Pundalik Parchake is conducting further investigation into the case under the guidance of Rajura police station Inspector Nitinkumar Chincholkar.