Pune News : Two individuals booked for impersonating as MSEDCL staffer for ‘changing’ electricity meter
Two individuals booked for impersonating as MSEDCL staffer for 'changing' electricity meter
By: Pune Pulse
December 1, 2023
Pune: A case has been registered by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) against two people in Manchar Police Station on Friday, November 24 for defrauding an MSEDCL customer by pretending to be employees of MSEDCL.They charged Rs 7,500 to the customer convincing them that the new meter will help in reducing their electricity bills.
As per information, MSEDCL provided an electricity connection to Ambika Chander Chavan, Dhobimala near the market yard of Manchar town in Ambegaon taluka. However, during the meter reading, it was found that the customer number and the meter number installed by MSEDCL did not match the computerized system.
As a result, Sanjay Barhate, Assistant Engineer of MSEDCL, Manchar Branch along with other officials visited the house of Chavan to carry out an inspection. During the inspection, they found out that the electricity meter installed was from another company.
During questioning, Chavan replied that around two months ago, two people namely Ganesh Mahadev Indore and Praveen Pachpute visited their homes claiming to be MSEDCL employees. They claimed that they would install a new electricity meter that would reduce their electricity bills and took Rs 7,500 from them. After that, the old electricity meter was taken away and another meter was installed.
Thus, it soon became clear that both Ganesh Indore and Praveen Pachapute were fake employees. These two pretended to be MSEDCL employees. It was also revealed that the original MSEDCL meter was disposed of and an unauthorized meter was installed on the premises of Ambika Chavan. Accordingly, a complaint was filed by MSEDCL at Manchar Police Station. The police have registered a case under sections 170, 420, 427, 136 and 34 of IPC against both of them.
Meanwhile, Rajendra Pawar MSEDCL Chief Engineer warned against such fraudulent practices and urged customers not to respond to individuals making financial demands in exchange for reducing electricity bills or altering meters. Pawar advised people to report such incidents to the concerned MSEDCL office.
