Power bill demand of Rs 1.91 crore ‘wholly unnatural and arbitrary’, Allahabad High Court gives relief to Sambhal MP, directs that electricity supply be restored

Sambhal Electricity Theft SP MP Ziaur Rahman BarqSamajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Barg was earlier booked for allegedly instigating protesters during the violence that had broken out in the area on November 24.The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) to restore power supply at the house of Sambhal Member of Parliament, Zia Ur Rehman Barq.In a significant relief to the Samajwadi Party MP, the Allahabad High Court also stayed the operation of an electricity bill demand of Rs 1.91 crore raised by the UPPCL, terming it “wholly unnatural and arbitrary”, in its June 4 order.The matter was heard by a division bench comprising Justices Saumitra Dayal Singh and Sandeep Jain. The court was hearing a writ petition filed by the Sambhal MP challenging the assessment order dated May 15, 2025. The court also directed the restoration of the electricity connection, subject to a deposit of Rs 6 lakh and timely payment of future bills.

- GNS News Agency, June 17

“Subject to the petitioner depositing Rs.6 lakhs within a period of two weeks from Wednesday, the effect and operation of order dated 15.05.2025, shall remain stayed and the electricity connection of the petitioner, that may have been temporarily disconnected, may be restored forthwith and be maintained subject to timely payment of future bills,” read the court order.Barq was represented by advocates Bidhan Chandra Rai and Stuti Rai, who argued that the UPPCL