Power theft: Pregnant woman, widow sentenced till rising of

Taking a humane view, a Delhi court has sentenced two women till rising of the court in a case of power theft noting that one of them is pregnant and the other a widow.
Additional Sessions Judge Suresh Kumar Gupta convicted Delhi residents Kamal Upadhyay and Nirmala Devi of the offence of power theft under the Electricity Act by putting a wire on a low transmission line but took a lenient view towards them and released both the women.
"The accused are first offenders. Accused Komal is in advance stage of pregnancy whereas accused Nirmala is widow. Keeping in view all the facts coupled with submissions made by the accused, a lenient view is taken in their favour.

"The accused are sentenced to undergo imprisonment till the rising of the court," the judge said.
Rising of the court is a nominal sentence awarded to a guilty person who is not allowed to leave the court till it concludes.
The judge also said the two women have paid the entire amount of their electricity bill of Rs 29,067 and this fact has been admitted by the discom's legal retainer in the court.

According to the complaint, on October 5, 2012, the officials of the discom inspected their premises in Jharoda Kalan area in west Delhi and it was used and occupied by the two women.

No electricity meter was installed there and the women were illegally indulging in direct theft of electricity from the pole of the complainant company with the help of wires which were connected to the premises' load, it said, adding that the connected load was found for domestic purpose.
A case was registered against Kamal and Nirmala at Baha Hari Dass Nagar Police Station.
At the time of sentence, Komal submitted she was in advance stage of pregnancy and has two daughters. Nirmala said that she was a widow and has to support her family as there is no one to look after them.

They both said they have paid the entire bill amount and sought a lenient view in punishment.
The leniency plea, however, was opposed by the counsel for the State.