MSEDC pays for 9-year-old bribe demand

Anish Choubey’s flour mill in Thane will finally ‘see light’ after nine years after the State Consumer Commission’s order in his favour against the corrupt officers of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Corporation Limited (MSEDC).

The commission did not just set aside the officer’s claim of Choubey indulging in theft of electricity and his culpability for the non-payment of the hefty bill but also observed that, “We found substance in the contention of bribe made by Choubey against the officers.”

While the Thane District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum dismissed Choubey’s complaint on October 29, 2009, he appealed to the State Commission stating that he had made an application to the MSERDC regarding incorrect meter readings for his flour mill in 2002.

In his complaint against MSERDC’s executive and deputy engineers, Choubey recounted how a bribe of Rs5000 was made by the officers for the correction of the bill and how on refusal to pay the bribe he was dispatched a heftier bill of Rs72,000.

While his power supply was disconnected on same day the bill was tendered (March 3, 2002), he was also slapped with a criminal case for electricity theft .

However, Choubey was acquitted on July 25, 2008 by the Judicial magistrate. Thereafter, the respondents kept refusing Choubey’s applications to reconnect his electric supply, remaining adamant on the payment of the alleged theft charges of Rs72,000.

However, President of the State Commission SB Mhase, judicial member S R Khanzode and member Narendra Kawde observed that the bill seemed hypothetical and called allegations of theft against Choubey baseless in dearth of evidence backed by his acquittal.

The commission observed that MSEDC disconnected the electricity on same day of tendering the bill, thereby, not following the principal of natural justice.

Therefore, it was ordered that the electric supply of the appellant’s flour mill be reconnected within 24 hours. Compensation at the rate Rs10,000 from March 14, 2002 , apart from Rs20,000 as the cost of complaint was also ordered to be paid.