Man faces action for letting Kejriwal restore power

BRPL files case under Act which bans tampering with power cables

Two days after Arvind Kejriwal launched his attack against the city government by restoring power supply in some houses, BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd filed a police complaint against a man, whose connection was restored on Sunday by the activist-turned-politician.

During protests across Delhi as part of his ‘bijli-paani satyagraha’, Kejriwal had visited the house of a labourer on Sunday at Tigri Colony in south Delhi and reconnected the power line cut off by the discom.

BRPL on Tuesday filed the case against the labourer with Neb Sarai police station in south Delhi.

In the complaint against Banna Ram, the discom has invoked Section 138 of the Indian Electricity Act, which states that it is illegal to interfere and fiddle with the electricity network. The discom said unauthorised power connection is a punishable offence that may attract imprisonment up to three years. Ram got a power bill of Rs 15,000 last month, and since he was unable to pay it, the discom cut off electricity to this house.

On why a complaint was not filed against Kejriwal, discom officials said action has been taken against the consumer who has been given the connection. State power minister Harun Yusuf had accused Kejriwal of trying to spread “anarchy” and “lawlessness” in the city.

Case against BJP leader

The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) of Monday filed a case under Sections 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of duty) and 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) of the Indian Penal Code against state BJP leader Vijay Goel for protesting outside the DERC office. DERC filed the case with Malviya Nagar police station, under whose jurisdiction Goel and his supporters had protested and disrupted hearing of the agency.

Police said BJP supporters surrouned DERC chairperson P D Sudhakar in his office. Police came an hour later and removed the protesters. Police said India Against Corruption activists had a minor scuffle with policemen when they tried to enter DERC office in Malviya Nagar.