(1)

No person shall fraudulently -

(a) alter the index to any meter or prevent any meter from duly registering the quantity of water supplied;

(b) abstract or use water before it has been registered by a meter set up for the purpose of measuring the same.

(2)

The existence of artificial means under the control of the consumer for causing any such alteration, prevention, abstraction or use shall be evidence that the consumer has fraudulently effected the same.

(3)

[ Whoever contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month or with a fine which shall not be less than five hundred rupees and which may extend upto five thousands rupees or with both.] [Sub-section (3) was added by Maharashtra 21 of 1989, Section 40.]

General provisions