Man accused of electricity theft denied Anticipatory Bail

A 56-year-old director of a Chembur-based education society, Shivajirao Salve, who was booked in an alleged electricity theft case of Rs 1,87,348 was refused an anticipatory bail by the Sessions Court on the grounds that the offence he is accused of is grave and that the complaint needs to be verified.

A case was registered against Salve, the director of Priyadarshani Indira Gandhi Education society, for allegedly committing electricity theft.

The court in its order held, "It shows that the meter and consumer number is proper, but the question arises, whether there was a theft of electricity, is a matter of evidence."

Assistant public prosecutor Iqbal Solkar, while opposing Salve's application, said, "The electric meter of Reliance Infrastructure was given to Salve. There is an electricity theft to the tune of Rs 1,87,349. Accused have not co-operated with the police. It is learned from the investigation that the electricity was taken from the meter and was provided to Savitribai Phule Madyamik Vidyalaya."

Salve in his application said that the electric company's officers have committed a crime under the Prevention of Atrocities against Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe Act by threatening and abusing him based on his caste and religion. "Despite filing a complaint, no cognisance has been taken against the officers. They wanted to harass the accused and hence a false case was filed against the accused," read Salve's application.