A sessions court in Keshod, Junagadh district, has sentenced a 42-year-old shrimp farmer to three years of simple imprisonment for stealing electricity valued at over Rs 15 lakh to support his aquaculture business. The accused, Vashram Chudasama, was found guilty of bypassing his official electricity meter to operate heavy machinery at his shrimp farm near the Dandeshwar Mahadev Temple in Chorwad town.
Details of the Theft
The case dates back to May 3, 2019, when a team from the state-run power distribution company Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (PGVCL) conducted a surprise inspection at Chudasama's farm. Led by a deputy engineer, the team discovered that Chudasama had created an unauthorized direct power connection. According to additional public prosecutor A M Parekh, Chudasama used long 6 sq mm four-core PVC cables to hook directly into the neutral wires of two different PGVCL utility poles. This illegal setup powered 16 electric aerator motors, each of two horsepower, which are essential for circulating water in commercial shrimp breeding ponds.
Financial Loss and Legal Action
Following the inspection, PGVCL officials seized the cables and calculated that the unauthorized consumption amounted to a financial theft of Rs 15.18 lakh. A formal police complaint was registered under Section 135 of the Indian Electricity Act, 2003, which strictly penalizes the direct theft of energy.
Court Verdict
Delivering his judgment on June 9, 2026, additional sessions judge H B Trivedi found Chudasama guilty. In his ruling, the judge emphasized the severe broader impacts of the crime, noting that electricity theft is not merely an economic loss to a single utility company but a serious socio-economic crime. The court stated that such thefts damage national property and ultimately place an unfair financial burden on honest, paying electricity consumers.
Sentence and Auction Order
Chudasama was sentenced to three years of simple imprisonment under Section 135 of the Electricity Act. Furthermore, the court ordered that the confiscated wires used in the theft be publicly auctioned after the appeal period expires, with all proceeds to be deposited into the government treasury.
