Mahavitaran’s Kalyan circle detected 1,189 electricity theft cases across urban and rural areas of Thane and Palghar districts during a special enforcement drive in August, with the stolen power assessed at more than ₹2.13 crore, the utility said on Wednesday.
The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited, commonly known as Mahavitaran, said notices had been issued to the customers involved, requiring them to pay charges calculated according to their electricity use along with applicable penalties. Customers who fail to pay within the prescribed period will face criminal action under the Electricity Act, according to the utility’s public relations department.
Ulhasnagar Division 2 recorded the highest number of cases during the month, with 420 instances of suspected theft detected. The utility said the cases involved the theft of 43,000 units of electricity. The methods identified included tampering with meters, taking unauthorised supply from electricity poles and fitting devices intended to manipulate meter readings.
Palghar district accounted for 369 cases, involving the theft of 163,000 units, Mahavitaran said. Virar and Kalyan Rural divisions each recorded 204 cases. The utility did not provide a further division-wise breakdown of the assessed monetary loss in the information released.
Mahavitaran said electricity theft causes revenue losses that ultimately add pressure to customers who pay their bills regularly. It also warned that unauthorised connections and meter tampering can create risks of short circuits, transformer failures caused by excess load and fires. The utility described electricity theft as a social offence and said accidents, including fatalities, had occurred during attempts to steal power.
The utility has also decided to publicly disclose the names of customers found stealing electricity, according to the report. Mahavitaran Director of Operations Dhananjay Aundhekar recently held a meeting with senior officials where the decision was taken. The names will be released after the cases are assessed, the utility said.
The latest action follows 1,175 electricity theft cases detected in the Kalyan circle during the previous month. Of those customers, 167 paid a combined ₹5.77 lakh to the government treasury as settlement charges. Mahavitaran said legal proceedings would be initiated against customers who do not pay the required settlement amount within the stipulated period.
Chandramani Mishra, chief engineer of the Kalyan circle, appealed to customers using unauthorised connections to regularise their electricity supply. The utility said further action would proceed according to the applicable legal deadlines and provisions of the Electricity Act.
