31 August,2026 06:48 PM IST | Mumbai | Abhitash Singh
The cases were detected as part of a special drive launched against electricity theft across the Bhandup Circle on the directions of Chief Engineer Sanjay Patil. Pic/Special Arrangement
Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has detected 22 cases of electricity theft involving Rs 76.85 lakh in CBD Belapur and Ulwe during August 2026.
The cases were detected as part of a special drive launched against electricity theft across the Bhandup Circle on the directions of Chief Engineer Sanjay Patil.
According to MSEDCL, the 22 cases involved the illegal use of 1,90,757 units of electricity. Action has been initiated under Section 135 of the Electricity Act, 2003.
Two of the cases detected in Ulwe involved particularly large amounts of electricity theft.
MSEDCL officials detected theft worth Rs 51.41 lakh in one case and Rs 11.84 lakh in another.
The electricity theft amounts in both cases were recovered from the respective consumers, according to the power distribution company.
The operation was conducted by MSEDCL's CBD Belapur Sub-Division under the guidance of Vashi Division Superintendent Engineer Deepak Patil.
The drive was led by Nerul Division Executive Engineer Suhas Bedgkar and Additional Executive Engineer of the CBD Sub-Division Prashant Banaite.
Engineers Ashlesha Rokade, Gauri Wazarkar, Madhuri Bhosale, Ravindra Nahide, Hemant Jadhav and Avinash Abhale were involved in the inspections and action.
MSEDCL said officials found several methods being used to steal electricity.
These included tampering with electricity meters, installing resistance devices inside meters, bypassing meters and tapping service wires to obtain an illegal power supply.
Chief Engineer Sanjay Patil appealed to consumers not to fall for offers or incentives linked to electricity theft and urged them to use electricity honestly.
He said the campaign against electricity theft would be intensified in the coming days.
Patil also warned that consumers who fail to pay the electricity theft amount and applicable penalty within the prescribed period could face criminal proceedings.
The utility urged consumers to follow electricity rules and avoid illegal connections or tampering with meters.
