Industrialist seeks CM's intervention in power theft case

Varanasi, Jun 13 (UNI) A prominent industrialist of the city today sought Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's intervention in a case of power theft registered against his cooking oil unit by the state power department.

''We are being framed up by the power department under pressure of some local BSP leaders, who want to settle scores with me over a three-year-old matter,'' owner of Jhunjhunwala Oil Mills Limited and Jhunjhunwala Refineries Dinanath Jhunjhunwala told newspersons here today.

''I request CM Mayawati to intervene by looking personally into the matter, where my industrial unit was being framed up in case of power theft,'' he added.

Earlier on Monday last, a power department team led by state power minister Ramveer Upadhyaya had conducted raid at the industrial premises of Mr Jhunjhunwala and reportedly found out that the cooking oil unit was indulging in power theft.

''An FIR has been filed against us in connection with the possibility of power theft. Can a case be registered only on the basis of possibility,'' Mr Jhunjhunwala questioned.

The power department has charged us with having two electricity connections illegally, but the truth is that the two connections were sanctioned by the power department to two separate companies of our group in 1976 and 1985,'' he added.

Besides, the charge of power theft has also been proved incorrect as the high-level team of power officials from Lucknow which investigated the matter yesterday has not found nothing incriminating against us, he maintained.

''I am going to write to the CM shortly to personally look into the matter which is part of a conspiracy hatched against my mill by some local BSP leaders. If the CM does not take heed of my request I will be compelled to take legal recourse for getting justice in the matter,'' Mr Jhunjhunwala said.

Ms Mayawati should reaslise that if industrialists are framed up by her government in false cases, no new investment will be possible in the industrially underdeveloped East UP.

UNI