The court also arrested five people in this connection and realised Tk 9.25 lakh in fines during separate drives under 'Operation Save Wasa' in the city's South Halishahar, Patenga and Station Road areas.

In one of the drives on Sunday, the court found that lakhs of litres of Wasa-supplied water were being stolen through by-pass connections in 86 flats at a six-storey building and a four-storey building in the densely populated area of Narikeltala at Patenga.

And each of the 86 flats of the two buildings has been paying an average monthly bill of only Tk 21.

The court arrested Haji Mohammad Ali, owner of the buildings, on charges of pilfering water and evading a huge amount of revenue. He was also fined Tk 5.60 lakh.

The court also disconnected all the illegal connections.

Similar incident of pilfering water was unearthed at a three-story building 'Rahima Mansion' in the same area on Sunday.

The court arrested the owner of the building and fined him.

In another drive yesterday, the court found that two hotels -- Café Paramount Hotel and Mayabi Residential Hotel at Station Road -- are have been pilfering Wasa-supplied water and evading revenues.

The court fined the hotels Tk 2.99 lakh and arrested three people.

Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Magistrate Munir Chowdhury conducted the drive along with Wasa officials.