Maharashtra: Man booked for power theft worth Rs 7.19 lakh in Thane

Representational Picture

Police in Maharashtra's Thane district has registered an offence against a man for allegedly stealing electricity worth Rs 7.19 lakh, an official said on Sunday.

News agency PTI reported that during checking, personnel of a private electricity company found the accused had illegally tapped a power line using wires in Quarter Gate area of Bhiwandi.

It was found that between November 2, 2022 and November 1, 2023, the accused used 23,550 units of power worth Rs 7,19,699 by illegally tapping the electricity line, as per a complaint filed by the power company personnel.

Based on the complaint, the Shanti Nagar police has registered offences against the accused under the Electricity Act, the official said.

Meanwhile, a case has been registered against three persons for allegedly cheating a man of Rs 3 lakh by offering him foreign currency in exchange at a cheap rate in Thane, police said on Sunday.

Also read: Maharashtra: Quota activist Jarange gets Kunbi cert framework

The accused approached the 34-year-old victim, a resident of Dombivli town, and offered him Dirhams at a cheap exchange rate.

The victim then gave Rs 3 lakh to the accused on Friday. The accused subsequently gave 'Dirhams' in exchange, but the victim later found many blank paper pieces in the foreign currency note bundle, an official from Vishnu Nagar police station said.

The victim filed a complaint on Saturday based on which an FIR was registered against the three persons under Indian Penal Code sections 420 (cheating) and 34 (common intention).

In a separate incident, Police arrested a shopkeeper in Thane for allegedly stocking banned gutka worth Rs 5.44 lakh in his outlet, an official said on Sunday.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raided the shop located at Purna village in Bhiwandi area on Saturday and seized the stock, the official from Narpoli police station said.

The 28-year-old shopkeeper was arrested and booked under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the FDA regulations, he said.

FDA food safety officer Rajendra Kardak, who led the raid, said the sale of gutka has been rampant at outlets in the district.

"We have been instructed to unearth all such sources and take action against them," he added.

The sale and consumption of gutka, scented and flavoured tobacco has been banned in Maharashtra since 2012. (With inputs from PTI)