Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Aug 31: After observing that charges of power theft levelled against a consumer had been proved, the first sessions and special court here, through a judgement delivered on Tuesday August 30, levied penalty of Rs 51,900 on the guilty.

Krishna Bhat (40), resident of Nettarakere, Annamoole in Bantwal taluk, had been accused by Mescom of unauthorizedly drawing power for domestic consumption. Bhat was ordered to pay Rs 49,900 as fine under section 135 of Escom Act and an additional sum of Rs 2,000 for line change, under section 138. In case of failure to pay the fine, he will have to undergo two years of imprisonment. Failure to pay additional fine will make him eligiible for one month's jail term.

Bhat was using power meant for his pump set for domestic consumption illegally. Mescom vigilance cell had detected this theft on April 13, 2009. Krishna Bhat had been levied with a penalty of Rs 33,292 then. Bhat failed to pay the fine as demanded, upon which the vigilance cell registered a case on its own.

Sub-inspector of Mescom vigilance cell, Santosh Shetty, who conducted investigation, had filed charge sheet in the court. Judge of the court, C M Joshi, delivered the verdict after examining nine witnesses. Public prosecutor, Raju Poojary Bannadi had represented the government.