Chandigarh MC employee posts video alleging graft, retracts later

A Municipal Corporation employee, who had posted a video on social media alleging corruption in the Enforcement Department, was today transferred to the road wing from the Enforcement Department.

MC Joint Commissioner Sumit Sihag said employees whose names were mentioned in the alleged video had also been transferred. The duties of 70 beldars working in the Enforcement Department have been changed.

Sihag said he had received information that Vikas, working as beldar in the Enforcement Department, had posted the video on Tuesday night in which he had levelled charges of corruption against some sub-inspectors and other employees.

Sihag said within hours Vikas posted another video and retracted the allegations he had made earlier.

The Joint Commissioner said taking the conduct of the employee seriously he was transferred back to his original department — the road wing.

Sihag said he has also change the duties of all beldars working in the Enforcement Department. He said the Municipal Corporation is taking a zero tolerance policy against illegal vendors and corruption.

More than 70 beldars are working in the Enforcement Department, whose job is to pick up goods of illegal vendors and load these onto trucks during drives against illegal vendors.

Sihag said since the employee retracted his statement and admitted that he did posted the video under the influence of liquor, no inquiry had been ordered into the allegations.

In the 15-minute video, which was posted on Tuesday, the employee claimed that though he is in a drunken state, he is speaking the truth. The employee made the video in his one-room house, along with his wife and two children.

Alleging rampant corruption in the Enforcement Department, he said he was being forced to collect money from the vendors.

He was collecting Rs 3 to Rs 4 lakh per month, he had claimed.

Vikas had further alleged that when he refused to collect more money he was tortured and threatened that he would be removed from job.

In the second video released today, the employee said the earlier video was made in a drunken state. He said he had a fight with another employee and was under the impression that he might be removed from the job.

He levelled false allegations as he was angry. Neither any inspector nor he ever took money from the vendors, he added.