Chandigarh: The Chandigarh vigilance department has registered an FIR against officials of the municipal corporation’s enforcement wing in connection with an alleged corruption and extortion racket that reportedly involved illegal collections from vendors and shopkeepers across the city.The case was registered Friday under Sections 7, 8 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, following a vigilance inquiry that found a prima facie case against the accused officials. Inspector Rohit Kumar of the Vigilance police station has been assigned the investigation.The action stems from a complaint filed on Aug 18, 2025, by Vikas Kumar, a beldar in the MC enforcement wing. In his complaint to the OSD, vigilance, Kumar alleged that certain enforcement inspectors and superintendent Sunil Dutt were running an organised extortion network that collected money from both legal and illegal vendors and shopkeepers operating across Chandigarh. He claimed the collections amounted to nearly Rs 50-60 crore annually.Earlier, on Aug 12 last year, Kumar had uploaded a video on social media alleging widespread corruption in the department. He further alleged that after the video surfaced, he was pressured to record another video withdrawing the allegations and was made to sign blank papers.Following the complaint, the vigilance department initiated a regular inquiry. Its report, submitted on June 16, 2026, concluded that a prima facie offence was made out against officials of the municipal corporation’s enforcement wing.The FIR was registered after approval from the Chief Vigilance Officer, Chandigarh administration, conveyed through official memorandums issued on July 29 and 30.According to vigilance officials, the probe will focus on allegations that enforcement inspectors and other staff members collected money illegally from vendors and shopkeepers across the city. Investigators will also examine the role of all those involved and determine the scale of the alleged racket.
