Why Was the Electricity Connection to Hanuman Beniwal’s House Cut Off?
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Synopsis
In a surprising turn of events, the electricity supply to Hanuman Beniwal's residence has been disconnected due to outstanding dues exceeding Rs 11 lakh. This incident raises questions about the implications for political candidates and the measures taken by the Electricity Department in Nagaur.
Key Takeaways
- Electricity disconnection due to unpaid dues.
- Property associated with Hanuman Beniwal has significant outstanding bills.
- The Electricity Department is intensifying efforts to recover dues.
- Beniwal claims political targeting in the disconnection.
- The responsibility to pay dues is emphasized regardless of political status.
Jaipur, July 2 (NationPress): The Electricity Department has cut off the power supply to the home of Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) leader and Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal due to unpaid bills amounting to over Rs 11 lakh.
This property, which also serves as the RLP office, is under the ownership of Beniwal’s brother, Premsukh Beniwal. Officials from the Electricity Discom in Nagaur stated that this disconnection is part of an extensive initiative to recover overdue payments and shut off electricity for defaulters.
“Connections with outstanding bills exceeding Rs 11 lakh are being severed. The largest pending amount, Rs 10.75 lakh, was associated with Premsukh Beniwal’s connection,” remarked Chaudhary.
Chaudhary further explained that six notices had already been delivered for bill settlement and meter replacement, yet the payments remained unsettled, and the settlement fee was unpaid.
“Despite numerous alerts, no payment was made. The connection will be reinstated only after the total amount is settled,” he emphasized.
On November 8, 2024, two notifications were issued by the Assistant Engineer Office of Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam in Nagaur. The initial notice, directed to Premsukh Beniwal, indicated an outstanding balance of Rs 9,82,953 related to electricity account number 1521-0249.
This notice warned that failure to settle the dues within 15 days would result in disconnection, and any illegal electricity consumption would lead to vigilance measures. Interestingly, Hanuman Beniwal’s name was later added by hand to this printed notice, suggesting an unofficial connection to the premises.
The second notice was addressed to Shankar Lal, son of Ramdev Chaudhary, a resident of Manasar, Nagaur. This notice included a handwritten mention of former MLA Narayan Beniwal and specified a pending amount of Rs 1,36,893 under account number 1813-0345, with similar warnings regarding disconnection and legal repercussions for electricity theft.
In response, Hanuman Beniwal stated, "Candidates must clear all dues, including electricity and water, before running for office. The connection in question is under my brother’s name. I had already paid over Rs 2 lakh due to a billing error by the Discom and escalated the issue to the settlement committee. Disconnecting the power without resolution is unlawful.”
Beniwal also accused the Chief Minister of instructing the CMD and MD of Ajmer Discom along with the District Collector to disconnect the power and send him a photo, stating, "This reflects the Chief Minister’s petty mentality.”
He stressed that as this is a government office, the government is responsible for the electricity costs.
“I’ve been personally covering these bills for the last six years,” he added.
“I opposed the gravel mafia in Nagaur's Riyan subdivision, where BJP leaders acquired illegal leases. They are now unsettled because I am revealing their corruption,” he said.
Beniwal clarified that he pays Rs 50,000 per month in rent for his residence in Jaipur.
“The government is well aware of this. Yet, they have resorted to such low tactics,” he concluded.
Point of View
It is vital to maintain an unbiased perspective on this matter. The disconnection of electricity at Hanuman Beniwal's residence sheds light on the broader issue of unpaid dues that can affect anyone, regardless of their political status. While Beniwal’s claims of political targeting deserve attention, the responsibility to settle dues must also be acknowledged. Accountability in governance should be upheld irrespective of personal affiliations.
NationPress
03/07/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Hanuman Beniwal's electricity connection disconnected?
The connection was cut off due to outstanding dues exceeding Rs 11 lakh.
Who owns the property where the connection was cut?
The property is registered in the name of Hanuman Beniwal’s brother, Premsukh Beniwal.
What actions were taken by the Electricity Department?
The Electricity Department disconnected the power as part of a drive to recover overdue payments from defaulters.
How much does Hanuman Beniwal claim to have paid?
Beniwal claims to have paid over Rs 2 lakh due to a billing error.
What allegations did Beniwal make against the Chief Minister?
Beniwal alleged that the Chief Minister instructed officials to disconnect his power supply.
