Crackdown on power theft intensifies in Tripura: Over 54,000 illegal hook lines removed in 8 years

The Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) has adopted a firm zero-tolerance policy against electricity theft and the illegal use of power through hook lines across the state. Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath has issued clear instructions that no leniency will be shown to those involved in stealing electricity, directing the corporation to take all necessary legal measures to curb the practice.

Speaking on the issue, the minister emphasized that electricity theft not only causes significant financial losses to the government but also affects the quality of service for legitimate consumers. According to him, illegal connections often disrupt the power distribution system, leading to voltage fluctuations and power outages that ultimately harm law-abiding customers.

To address the problem, the minister has instructed the vigilance wing of TSECL to further intensify its monitoring and enforcement activities throughout the state. He has also appealed to responsible consumers to support the corporation by reporting cases of electricity theft and discouraging illegal connections in their localities.

TSECL Managing Director Biswajit Basu said that following the minister’s directive, vigilance operations have already been strengthened across Tripura. Special teams are regularly conducting surprise inspections in different areas to detect illegal hook connections and take action against those involved in power theft.

Basu stated that over the past several years, the vigilance wing of the corporation has carried out numerous raids across the state. These operations have not only resulted in the disconnection of thousands of illegal hook lines but have also led to the recovery of substantial amounts of money through penalties imposed on offenders.

According to official data released by the corporation, a total of 54,604 cases of electricity theft and illegal hook connections were detected and acted upon between the financial year 2018–19 and February 28 of the ongoing financial year 2025–26.

During this eight-year period, the corporation-imposed penalties amounting to more than 14.16 crore against electricity thieves. Out of this, over 11.21 crore has already been successfully recovered.

The data also shows that the intensity of the anti-theft drive has increased significantly in the past two financial years, resulting in a sharp rise in both the number of operations conducted and the amount of penalties collected.

In the financial year 2018–19, TSECL disconnected 9,652 illegal hook lines across the state. During that period, penalties worth 93.44 lakh were imposed, out of which 81.31 lakh was recovered. In 2019–20, a total of 7,119 hook lines were disconnected. The corporation-imposed fines amounting to 71.20 lakh, of which 62.29 lakh was recovered. The financial year 2020–21 saw the disconnection of 4,033 hook lines. Penalties worth 74.50 lakh were imposed, with 63.47 lakh successfully recovered. Similarly, in 2021–22, the corporation removed 4,075 illegal hook connections. Penalties of 60.80 lakh were imposed, while 46.22 lakh was collected. The pace of enforcement began to increase in the following years. In 2022–23, TSECL disconnected 4,782 hook lines and imposed fines totaling 1.01 crore, of which 66.05 lakh was recovered.

In the financial year 2023–24, the corporation disconnected 5,196 hook lines. During that year, penalties worth 2.62 crore were imposed, and around 1.72 crore was recovered. The crackdown intensified further in 2024–25. During that financial year, authorities identified and removed 9,942 illegal hook lines. Penalties amounting to 3.87 crore were imposed, and 3.11 crore was recovered. In the ongoing financial year 2025–26, up to February 28, the vigilance teams have already disconnected 9,805 illegal hook lines. Penalties worth 3.63 crore have been imposed so far, out of which 3.18 crore has been recovered. The vigilance squads were particularly active during February this year. According to the monthly report, a total of 83 major raids were conducted across various Electricity Sub-Division (ESD) areas in the state during the month. These operations resulted in the disconnection of 772 illegal hook lines in February alone. Additionally, officials inspected 1,643 electricity meters during the raids, of which 186 meters were found to have been tampered with or involved in malpractice.

During the same month, penalties amounting to 37,75,950 were imposed on offenders, while 36,19,731 was recovered, including outstanding dues. Moreover, 283 electricity connections were permanently disconnected for violating rules and engaging in illegal practices.

TSECL Managing Director Biswajit Basu noted that electricity theft through hook lines not only results in massive financial losses for the government but also places an additional burden on the power distribution system. He explained that illegal consumption often leads to instability in the network, causing voltage fluctuations and frequent load-shedding in certain areas. Preventing electricity theft, he said, would make it easier for the corporation to provide stable and uninterrupted power supply across the state. The corporation has once again reiterated that hooking and meter tampering are punishable offences under the law. Authorities have warned that strict legal action and heavy penalties will continue to be imposed on anyone found involved in such illegal activities.

TSECL has also appealed to the public to use only authorized electricity connections and cooperate with the authorities in maintaining a fair and efficient power distribution system. Citizens have been urged to immediately inform the corporation if they come across any instances of electricity theft in their areas. Officials believe that with the firm directives issued by Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath and the active supervision of Managing Director Biswajit Basu, the ongoing anti-theft drive will gain further momentum in the coming months.

The corporation expressed confidence that its strict stance against power theft will help build a more reliable and disciplined electricity system in Tripura, ultimately benefiting all legitimate consumers across the state.