The power giant BSES discoms have intensified drive against 'impostors' after ten impostors masquerading as BSES officials were apprehended and legal action was initiated.
A senior BSES official said that over 30 of these 'impostors' have been apprehended and most of them arrested in the last three years. Recently, a tout - who was doubling-up as a 'BSES official' was convicted by the 'Special Court of Electricity' and was imposed a fine of Rs 72,000, he said.
"Posing as BSES employee, the gang members allegedly try to scare residents by telling them that their electricity meter is tampered which tantamount to power-theft that not only attracting a
heavy penalty but imprisonment also. Later, they try to settle the case for a "sum". Recently, two cases have come to light in South Delhi," the official said.
In another case, posing as BSES 'enforcement' officials, two people visited a residence at the posh Paryavaran Complex in South Delhi, ostensibly to check the meter. Proclaiming that the meter was tampered, they removed the electricity meter and tried to scare the customer of impending heavy fines for power-theft, he said.
A few days later, the group stuck at another premises in the Chattarpur village. They managed to remove the meter on the pretext of power theft. The Police are on the look-out for the gang, he added.
In an advisory issued by the BSES reads that the discoms have been requesting consumers to be wary of such unscrupulous elements," BSES spokesperson said "We once again appeal to our consumers not to get intimidated or induced by threats and/or false assurances of the 'impostors' and not give them any money - whatever be the reason.
All enforcement (fines and penalties) and commercial payments are to be made only at designated BSES offices. Consumers are advised to ascertain and verify the identity of persons claiming to be from BSES.