Authorities in the district have stepped up their efforts to combat energy theft after the violence that occurred on November 24, 2024, during a court-ordered study at Shahi Jama Masjid. There have been more than 1,400 instances filed, including accusations against two madrasas and sixteen mosques.

More than 1,400 incidents of energy theft have been reported in Sambhal, including accusations against 16 mosques and two madrasas, according to Superintending Engineer Vinod Kumar’s announcement on Wednesday.

“A fine of Rs 11 crore has been imposed in these cases, and nearly Rs 20 lakh has been recovered so far,” Kumar told the press. “Following the initiation of this campaign, applications for new electricity connections have been received from 22 mosques and one church,” he said, highlighting the crackdown’s wider effects.

For suspected power theft at his city home, Samajwadi Party leader and Sambhal’s Lok Sabha MP Ziaur Rahman Barq was previously the subject of a formal complaint. The action came after authorities from the electrical department completed an examination.