Pune: A man was booked in Pune’s Hadapsar for abusing and manhandling an MSEDCL (Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited) employee.

A complaint in the matter was lodged by Avinash Bhosale (42), who is also a MSEDCL employee.

According to a complaint, Bhosale went Mohammadwadi for recovery of unpaid electricity bills accounting to Rs 19,000. The suspect had failed to pay his bills since months, according to his complaint. The accused, one of them allegedly carrying a blunt weapon, entered into a heated argument with the MSEDCL staff and abused them. He also hurled a bamboo while manhandling MSEDCL employee.

A case under Sections 353, 504, 506 of the Indian Penal Code is registered at the Wanowrie police station.

A similar incident was reported in the city where four persons including a woman in Kothrud were arrested for allegedly manhandling employees of the MSEDCL, while they were collecting unpaid electricity bills at Gosavi Vasti area of Kothrud. The arrested are booked under sections 143, 147, 148, 149, 353, 332, 427 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections of the Indian Arms Act.

In order to recover the long-pending power bills from defaulters, MSEDCL has initiated a drive of recovering bills or to cut down the connection in the city. However, the drive is seen turning ugly after many residents are hurling abuses towards these employees.

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