Navyug Palghar
***ACB Trap Lends Weight to Complaints of Inflated Power Bills; MSEDCL Wireman Held While Accepting ₹8,000 Bribe***
Palghar, August 21: As electricity consumers continue to complain about receiving inflated power bills, an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) trap involving an MSEDCL wireman has lent fresh weight to suspicions surrounding such complaints. The wireman was allegedly caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹8,000 for “settling” and reducing a consumer's allegedly excessive electricity bill.
The action has raised serious questions about complaints from consumers who have repeatedly alleged that their electricity bills are unusually high. While the ACB case concerns the alleged demand for a bribe in connection with settling a bill, the incident has also highlighted the need for transparent and independent scrutiny of complaints regarding inflated electricity bills.
The Palghar unit of the Anti-Corruption Bureau trapped Pradip Subhash Mahajan, a wireman working with MSEDCL, on August 20.
According to the ACB, the complainant had alleged that the electricity bill for his house was unusually high. Mahajan had visited the house and inspected the electricity meter. It was alleged that after the inspection, he demanded ₹8,000 to “settle” the excessive electricity bill and have it reduced.
The complaint was legally verified by the ACB on August 19 at Dandapada, Kharkuran, in Palghar taluka. During the verification, Mahajan was found to have allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹8,000 for settling the complainant's excessive electricity bill, the ACB said.
Following the verification, the ACB laid a trap on August 20 at Mithagar Road in Palghar. During the operation, Mahajan was allegedly caught red-handed while accepting the ₹8,000 bribe amount from the complainant in the presence of panch witnesses.
Fresh Questions Over Consumer Complaints
Electricity consumers have frequently raised complaints about inflated bills. It is said that, such complaints are dealt with through meter inspections, bill corrections, reading-related issues or other technical explanations. However, in the present case, the alleged demand for money specifically to “settle” an excessive electricity bill has emerged as the central issue in the ACB action. This has given fresh momentum to demands that complaints regarding inflated power bills should be examined through a transparent, technical and independent mechanism.
*Officers and Trap Team*
The trap operation was conducted by Rakesh Laxman Dange, Police Inspector, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Palghar, Thane Range, who acted as the trap officer.
The operation was supervised by Dadaram Subhash Karande, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Palghar, Thane Range. The trap team included Police Head Constable Vilas Bhoye, Jitendra Gawale, Prakash Dalvi and Akash Lohare.
