Recently, the Samajwadi party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq has been fined with Rs 1.91 crore for alleged power theft. In addition to disconnecting the electricity connection to the MP’s residence. The department has also filed a FIR against him. The authorities have also issued an official notice to the MP, demanding prompt payment of penalty.
According to sources, Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) Santosh Tripathi confirmed the developments. He stated that a recovery certificate (RC) will be issued in the leader’s name shortly if the penalty money was not paid.
The development comes following a team of electricity department raided the MP’s house to investigate suspected power theft. The department collected existing meters as evidence and installed new smart meters.
Threats Issued?..
During the raid, SP MP Zia Ur Rehman’s father and two others have been booked for threatening and obstructing the government officials in carrying their duties.
According to B K Gangal, Junior Engineer, UPPCL, “The MP’s father had tried to stop us when we were trying to see how electricity was being stolen at his residence. He said ‘You people will be ruined if the SP government comes to power. Your activities are being recorded with CCTV cameras. Each one of you will face consequences with the change of government (in the state).”
DK Gupta, senior engineer State Electricity Department briefed the media on the same. He said, “A team of five people went to his (Zia ur Rehman Barq) residence in the morning. They (family members) were not allowing to conduct the checking, but then the JE opened the lock. They gave a threat to the JE too, an FIR is being filed in this matter. A total of 16.5 kW of load was recorded. There were two connections of 2 kW, one in the name of Zia ur Rehman Barq and one in the name of his grandfather…An FIR is being filed against Zia ur Rehman Barq over electricity theft…An MRI has also been done of the meter.”
#WATCH | UP Electricity Department search at SP MP Zia ur Rehman Barq's residence | DK Gupta, senior engineer State Electricity Department says, "A team of five people went to his (Zia ur Rehman Barq) residence in the morning. They (family members) were not allowing to conduct… pic.twitter.com/VZN4VB3a2F
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2024
Further, SDO Santosh Tripathi alleged that a two-kilowatt connection at the MP’s home was illegally bypassed. Thus allowing consumption of 16.48 kilowatts of unauthorised electricity. According to the Hindustan Times report, the FIR stated, “On checking the meter of the consumer, it is clear that electricity theft has been done by bypassing the meter and using electricity illegally.”
Illegal Construction Razed..
Adding to the woes of the Zia Ur Rehman Barq, the district administration on Friday, razed the illegally built construction outside the SP MP’s house. As per the officials the bulldozer action was taken as part of the anti-encroachment drive in the Deep Sarai area. Under this drive, many illegal encroachments were razed. In the same light, action was taken on the SP MP’s house as well. Reportedly, a slab illegally made on the drain outside the SP MP’s house was removed with a JCB machine. Additionally, two staircases illegally built, leading to the MP’s house were also razed.
Notably, starting December 13, the UPPCL has stepped up efforts to stop power theft and encroachment in the Muslim-majority neighbourhood of Deepa Sarai, officials said, adding that more than 200 cases of power theft had been registered, with fines exceeding ₹2 crore.