Three officials of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) were arrested in Jalgaon after the Anti-Corruption Bureau alleged that they accepted Rs 15,000 to avoid action in a suspected electricity theft case.
The arrested officials include an assistant engineer and two senior technicians attached to MSEDCL’s Jalgaon City revenue and billing subdivision, according to an ACB release cited by the Times of India. A case has been registered against them at the MIDC police station under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
According to the ACB account, the officials visited the residence of a 40-year-old Jalgaon resident around 11.15 am on November 14 to inspect a newly installed electricity meter and photograph household electrical appliances. One of the senior technicians later allegedly called the complainant to another location.
The officials allegedly claimed that the residence had excess electrical load and that electricity was being stolen through a bypassed service wire. They allegedly demanded Rs 40,000 to prevent legal action and threatened to register a power theft case if the amount was not paid, the ACB said.
The complainant approached the ACB in Jalgaon on the same day. During verification of the complaint, ACB officials found that the two senior technicians had allegedly demanded Rs 40,000 and later agreed to settle the matter for Rs 15,000, according to the agency’s release.
The ACB subsequently laid a trap at Pandey Chowk in Jalgaon on Saturday. The assistant engineer was allegedly caught while accepting Rs 15,000, after which all three officials were taken into custody.
The case highlights the direct administrative contact involved in electricity inspections, meter checks and billing enforcement. These processes can determine whether a consumer faces a demand notice, a theft allegation or further legal action, making the conduct of field officials central to public trust in utility regulation. In this case, however, the allegations remain subject to investigation and legal proceedings.
MSEDCL officials attached to the Jalgaon City revenue and billing subdivision were named in the case. The report did not state whether the utility had announced any departmental action against the accused officials or whether the complainant’s electricity connection had been affected.
The criminal case will now proceed through the investigation and judicial process under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Further developments are expected from the ACB, the police and MSEDCL on the investigation and any departmental response.
