By way of background, CJM Gupta is said to have purchased a residential property in Lucknow in 2009.
In 2013, CJM Gupta requested the electricity department to convert the earlier electricity account to his name. In response, the Sub-Divisional Officer of the local energy sub-station notified Gupta that there was an unpaid bill of ₹1,66,916 on the said electricity connection.
Shocked, CJM Gupta filed a complaint citing offences under Sections 420, 464, 467, 468, 504, 506 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC). The complaint was filed against the earlier house owner, her husband and the officials of electricity department.
The officials argued that they had nothing to do with the dispute between CJM Gupta and the earlier owner and that they had only raised a demand to pay outstanding sums. For having a new electricity connection, the CJM has to pay the earlier dues first, the officials said.
A trial court in Lucknow later summoned the accused but no substantive case was found against the officials. Subsequently, the case was dropped against them.
After the case was dropped against the officials, CJM Gupta filed an unsuccessful consumer complaint. He also failed to secure any remedy from the Electricity Ombudsman.
He then lodged a first information report (FIR) in his personal capacity against the electricity department officials in 2023. The government officers filed a petition before the High Court urging it to quash this case.
Source: Barandbench
