Punjab cracks down on power theft: 296 FIRs filed, 38 employees terminated

Punjab's power minister, Harbhajan Singh ETO, has declared a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and power theft. In August, the Punjab government took strong actions by registering 296 FIRs at anti-power theft police stations throughout the state. They also terminated 38 employees from the state power department, including 37 outsourced meter-readers and one supervisor, for alleged corrupt practices.

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Minister ETO emphasized that regular checks and raids are being conducted statewide to address power theft and minimize revenue losses. The FIRs have been distributed across different zones: 90 in Patiala, 79 in Amritsar, 71 in Bathinda, 29 in Ludhiana, and 27 in Jalandhar. These actions align with the state government's firm stance against corruption.

ETO stressed that corruption and power theft will not be tolerated under any circumstances. The minister has instructed the state power department to conduct extensive inspections across Punjab to prevent further theft and recover losses caused by such illegal activities.