Chandigarh, Sept 2: The Vigilance Department has launched an inquiry following allegations that officials in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation’s enforcement wing have been extorting ₹50–60 crore annually from street vendors and shopkeepers.
The complaint was filed by Vikas, a beldar with the MC for 18 years, who alleged that over the past three years he was pressured to collect money while deployed with an inspector. “When I refused, I was threatened with dismissal,” he said in a letter to the OSD (Vigilance).
On August 12, Vikas posted a video on social media exposing the alleged racket. He claimed that the next day, MC officials summoned him to the Sector 17 office and pressured him to retract his statement. According to Vikas, he was taken in a private car to the Rock Garden parking lot, where a video was forcibly recorded on his phone to make him withdraw the allegations. He also said he was taken to an advocate’s office in Sector 37 and compelled to sign blank papers.
Vikas alleged that at least eight beldars collect money on behalf of the inspectors, with eight enforcement officers and the superintendent also involved. He maintained that his original video statement was made voluntarily and stands by his claims.
Official challans from the enforcement wing reportedly total just ₹1–1.5 lakh per month, while extortion payments from vendors allegedly reach ₹4–6 lakh monthly. Depending on location and footfall, each vendor may be forced to pay ₹2,000–4,000 monthly. Vendors who comply are spared, while those who refuse face harassment, seizure of goods, or eviction.
The vigilance department has taken cognisance of the complaint and is expected to summon both the complainant and the officials named for questioning. Authorities also plan to examine property declarations of all inspectors and sub-inspectors to verify the allegations of corruption.
