Authority: Calcutta High Court (Justice Kausik Chanda)
Order Date: 13 August 2026
Case Overview
- Petitioner: Ravi Kumar Arora vs. State of West Bengal & Anr.
- Criminal proceedings under Sections 135 and 138 of the Electricity Act, 2003, arising from Bowbazar Police Station Case No. 54 of 2026 and SPL Case No. 15 of 2026, pending before the Electricity Judge, City Sessions Court, Calcutta.
- Petitioner is tenant of premises at 21 Kenderdine Lane, Kolkata‑700012, but resides at Flat No. 1303, Block‑A2, Emami City, Jessore Road, Kolkata‑700028; the electricity meter is in the landlord’s name.
- Petitioner submitted passport, Aadhaar and other documents to prove residence and asserted no involvement in alleged meter tampering; sought quashing of the proceedings.
- Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC) contended that the petitioner had access to the meter, that the premises were in the petitioner’s exclusive possession, and that the petitioner had responded to a notice issued under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
- Investigation remains ongoing; the investigating agency has declined to consider the petitioner’s documents.
Final Outcome
- The Court declined to quash the criminal proceedings, stating that the factual controversy must be resolved through a proper investigation by the investigating agency.
- Directed the investigating agency to duly consider the documents produced by the petitioner in accordance with law and to conclude the investigation expeditiously with a reasoned and logical conclusion.
- The order, identified as CRR 1913 of 2026, was disposed of with the above directions; a certified copy may be supplied on request.
Topics: Electricity Law, Meter Tampering, Judicial Review