Lucknow, Oct. 20 -- Several engineers and employees of the Lucknow Electricity Supply Administration (LESA) are under the scanner for allegedly issuing new electricity connections to consumers with substantial outstanding dues and pending electricity theft cases. The Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (MVVNL) managing director has ordered a probe after receiving confidential inputs about alleged irregularities in the process. The alleged irregularities involve consumers with outstanding dues ranging from around Rs.13,846 to more than Rs.3.34 lakh. In some cases, new connections were reportedly sanctioned on the same premises in the names of other family members despite unpaid bills against existing connections. The connections were allegedly released on the basis of incorrect reports submitted under the vertical system of electricity distribution. Chief engineer LESA Ravi Agarwal said, "A committee has been constituted on the MD's directions to investigate the matter and identify those responsible. The inquiry is expected to examine how the new connections were approved despite the outstanding dues and, in one instance, multiple electricity theft cases registered against the premises." According to details available in the cases under scrutiny, a connection registered in the name of, a resident of Jambur Khana in Hussainganj, had outstanding dues of Rs.3,34,412 as of March 2021. The amount included more than Rs.3.04 lakh in arrears and around Rs.30,000 in then-current bill. Four separate electricity theft cases were also registered on June 20, 2024, in connection with premises. Despite this, two new smart prepaid/postpaid connections of 2 kW each were reportedly issued in 2026. The bills show connection dates of August 20 and August 12, 2026, respectively. In another case, a premises in building number 450/12 in Muftiganj had outstanding dues of Rs.1,01,013 against a 1 kW connection. A new domestic connection with a sanctioned load of 2 kW was subsequently issued at the same address, according to the records cited in the complaint. A similar case has been flagged at Khasra No. 867 in Sikarori, Dubagga. An existing 1 kW connection had outstanding dues of around Rs.13,846. However, a new 3 kW connection was reportedly issued at the same address. The inquiry will examine whether mandatory checks were bypassed, whether incorrect reports were submitted and whether officials concerned followed applicable rules before approving connections. htc...