Nine Booked for Electricity Theft in Tadi Village; 25 Defaulters Disconnected

VARANASI: A joint electricity-department and vigilance operation in Tadi village under Pindra found nine consumers allegedly drawing power illegally and disconnected 25 other connections over long-pending bills, according to a local report.

Cases have been registered against the nine consumers accused of theft, Live Hindustan's Varanasi bureau reported. The 25 disconnections were carried out at the premises of large defaulters who had not cleared dues despite the passage of time. The report did not state the combined amount owed or describe the alleged method of theft in each case.

The two categories should not be confused. Electricity theft is a statutory allegation that may involve bypassing a meter, tapping a line or interfering with equipment. Bill default is a recovery matter arising from unpaid consumption. Both can result in disconnection, but the evidence, notice requirements and legal process are different.

For residents, enforcement drives often arrive with anxiety because meters, account names and old bills may not match the present occupant of a property. Inspection teams should record readings and visible conditions, identify themselves and provide the consumer with the relevant seizure, assessment or disconnection document. A photograph and meter number help prevent a later dispute about which premises was checked.

The department also needs to keep a functional path for correction. A consumer who believes a bill is inflated, a payment is missing or a meter is defective should be able to file an objection and obtain a time-bound response. Strong enforcement against deliberate theft works best when ordinary billing complaints are not allowed to pile up beside it.

Power theft affects more than revenue. Unauthorised connections can overload local transformers, produce unsafe exposed wiring and deepen voltage problems for paying users. In a wet season, makeshift joints and low-hanging wires create an additional electrocution risk for people and livestock.

At the same time, accusations remain accusations until the prescribed assessment and legal proceedings are completed. The people booked in Tadi have the right to contest the department's case. The utility must preserve inspection records and establish the alleged unauthorised use against each individual account rather than treating the village as a single unit.

Monday's action delivered immediate numbers—nine cases and 25 cuts. The longer test is whether it leads to safer lines, corrected accounts and regular payment without leaving genuine billing errors unresolved.

Consumers whose supply was cut for arrears should be told the exact reconnection procedure, including payment channels, fees and inspection requirements. Clear instructions reduce the temptation to reconnect illegally and help the department convert enforcement into regular billing behaviour.