• Source:PTI
Add as a preferred

The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) on Tuesday registered a case against former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy after the state Congress accused him of drawing power illegally to illuminate his JP Nagar residence for Diwali. The Vigilance Wing of BESCOM registered a case at its Vigilance Police Station under section 135 of the Indian Electricity Act (Theft of electricity), news agency PTI reported.

The development comes after the ruling Congress posted a video on social media platform X, criticising the JD(S) leader and son of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda.

ALSO READ: Karnataka: All Types Of Headcovers Banned Inside Examination Hall For Upcoming Recruitment Exams; Details

"The lone honest person in the world H D Kumaraswamy's JP Nagar residence was illuminated with decorative lights with illegal power connection directly from the electric pole. It is a tragedy that such poverty has struck a former CM to steal electricity!" the Congress said.

Taking a swipe at Kumaraswamy further, the party said the Congress government's 'Gruha Jyoti' scheme offers 200 units of free electricity a month for residential connections and not 2,000 units.

JD(S) leader responded to the matter soon and stated that a private decorator who provided the connection straight from a nearby electricity pole was to blame, not him. As soon as he learned, he immediately got it removed and took the electricity connection from the meter board of the house, Kumaraswamy said.

"I am sorry for this indiscretion. Let BESCOM (Bangalore Electricity Supply Company) officials come and inspect and issue a notice. I will pay the fine," Kumaraswamy wrote on X.

The Congress went on further and taunted "If you were so poverty-stricken, then you should have applied for the Gruha Jyoti scheme. Oh, you didn't know that only one electricity meter is allowed under the Gruha Jyoti scheme whereas there are many meters in your name!”

"Despite power shortage in the state, measures were taken by us to provide seven hours of electricity to the farmers; you are facing such a "drought" that you resort to such a cheap theft? Didn't you hold a press conference and say "Karnataka is in the dark" and now you have lit up your house with stolen electricity?” it added.