Bengaluru: The Bescom Vigilance Squad swooped down on two major private firms in the Bommasandra industrial zone for unauthorised extension of power supply to other firms. While Aquamall Water Solutions, a water purifier manufacturer, was told to cough up Rs 10 crore, Radhamani Exports was told to pay Rs 3 crore. Power supply to the two firms was disconnected and the companies have reportedly declared leave for their employees.
According to the vigilance squad officials, Aquamall had sub-leased its electricity supply to Shell India and the latter was consuming 95 per cent of the power supply. “This was found documented in the mutual lease agreement between the two companies,” said Prakash Gowda, SP, Vigilance Squad Bescom.
“Aquamall was sanctioned for 1250 KVA, but during investigations it was found out that it had consumed only 5 per cent of the power and extended the rest to Shell India, which is illegal,” Gowda said. The company was penalised taking into account the metered 4 lakh units consumed per month over a period of six years, which will come up to between Rs 10 crore and Rs 15 crore, he added.
Under the leadership of Gowda, Executive Engineer Shiva Prakash and Assistant Executive Engineer Asifulla, a detailed inquiry was carried out after the squad got information about the misuse of power by the two firms. “The reason that this misuse came to the fore after six years is because the meter readers were not well qualified to locate and catch the offence,” Gowda conceded.
Radhamani Exports has been penalized for subletting electricity to a Japanese automobile company - Yazaki India Private Limited, which manufactures automobile spares, in Bommasandra Industrial area. The disconnection of power supply has also affected Shell and Yazaki.
Police complaints have been registered at the Jayanagar and Ramanagara police stations, under whose jurisdictions these two companies are located. The two companies will have pay up 50 per cent of the penalty and further on they can go ahead and challenge the case at a special court, said a senior official from vigilance squad.
