Bhubaneswar: The manager of a private steel manufacturing unit in Cuttack district was arrested on Tuesday, official sources said.
The power theft amounting to about Rs 75 lakh was detected during a regular meter checking drive by Athagarh electrical division.
Both the outer and inner seals of the meter installed at the steel manufacturing unit were found tampered by the electricity department following which an FIR was lodged at the energy police station.
As the industry was coming under HT (high tension) category consuming electricity load of 2778 KW, the firm had allegedly stolen power cost amounting more than Rs 75 lakh, the FIR said.
The firm was also served the penal bill of Rs 75 lakh and Rs 70,000 and the power supply was immediately disconnected.
After the amendment of the Electricity Act, 2003 in 2007, power theft was made a cognisable and non-bailable offense.