The Electricity Department in Sambhal has fined Lok Sabha MP Zia Ur Rehman ₹1.91 crore and disconnected the power supply to his residence for suspected power theft, an official said on Friday.

This comes after the Samajwadi Party MP was charged with electricity theft under Section 135 of the Electricity Act, 2003, in a police case filed on Thursday. They added that his father, Mamlukur Rehman Barq, was also charged with intimidating officials at their Deepa Sarai neighbourhood home during the inspection. "An electricity inspection drive underway in Sambhal even today. A fine of ₹1.91 crore has been imposed on the MP by the Electricity department and the power supply to his residence has been disconnected," Sambhal Superintending Engineer Vinod Kumar told PTI.

An FIR filed by the Electricity Department reveals that an inspection team discovered evidence of electricity theft by bypassing the meter, confirming illegal power usage. The inspection took place on Thursday morning, with heavy security at the MP's residence. Zia Ur Rehman is one of those charged in connection with the violence on November 24, which resulted in the deaths of four locals during a clash with security forces. This occurred while a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid was being carried out in the Kot Garvi area of the city. Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Bishnoi had previously told reporters that at 7:30 am on Thursday, Santosh Tripathi from the electricity department was assigned to inspect power equipment in the Deepa Sarai area. 

He said that Mamlukur Rehman Barq mistreated engineers V K Gangal and Ajay Kumar Sharma and impeded government work while inspecting the MP's home. According to the SP, Barq warned the engineer "we will ruin you and the dispensation will change." The power department has videotaped the incident. "A case has been registered at the Nakhasa police station against Barq and two others Wasim and Salman under relevant provisions of the law," Bishnoi added.

According to Vinod Kumar, the MP's residence had two two-kilowatt connections. One bears the name of his late grandfather, and the other the name of Zia Ur Rehman. According to a power department official, smart meters were put at the MP's house two days ago, and throughout the previous six months, the meters displayed zero unit use.

He mentioned that during a check on Thursday, a 16.48 kilowatt load was detected at his location. When both of his electricity meters were sent to the lab, the MRI test revealed that both meters had been tampered with. Today, during another check, engineers Ajay Sharma and V K Gangal reported that they were threatened by the MP's father. A police complaint has been filed regarding the incident.