Bijnor: Inflated electricity bills of around 800 consumers led to the discovery of large-scale embezzlement of public money by a clerk of UP Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Ltd (UPPVVNL) in Bijnor, who did not account for the money and allegedly pocketed over Rs 50 lakh in dues paid by them.According to corporation officials, the fraud came to light in August last year when consumers came in large numbers with complaints of inflated bills although they had been paying the dues on time. An FIR was lodged against Dharmendra Kumar, a clerk dealing with collection of money, and after investigations, he was arrested on Wednesday.Officials said that Kumar took 19 receipt books from the electricity department, and issued receipts to consumers after receiving their electricity dues.Between March and June 2017, Kumar, deputed in Noorpur sub-division of Bijnor, allegedly collected Rs 50 lakh from 800 consumers. The scam came to light in August when the consumers received inflated bills and found that money collected from them had not been recorded in the system.After receiving hundreds of complaints, the power department launched an inquiry. A case was then registered in the matter on August 26 last year. After the probe revealed the role of Kumar in the scam, he was arrested on Wednesday from his house in Noorpur area of Bijnor.“We have arrested Kumar. He is being questioned,” said Suman Kumar, station house officer (SHO) of Noorpur area.

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