Municipal officers face bribery allegations in Bhopal:Trader confronts officials during anti-encroachment drive; opposition demands inquiry

Mr. Mayor, look here, shops are set up by taking money, if you don’t pay, they don’t let you set up. Amid an ongoing drive to remove encroachments from Bhopal’s markets, a trader recorded a video in front of three municipal corporation officials, alleging illegal cash transactions. The 39-second video also shows a heated exchange between the trader and the officials, with the trader appearing angry over the action. According to information, on Friday, municipal encroachment officers Shailendra Singh Bhadoria, Mahesh Gauhar and Arvind Chaudhary reached the Budhwara area along with their team to carry out an anti-encroachment drive. During the operation, a shopkeeper upset over the removal recorded the video, which surfaced on Saturday. The issue has also drawn political reactions. Leader of the Opposition Shabista Zaki alleged that an encroachment mafia is active in Bhopal and that municipal officials have links with them. “Encroachments happen at their behest. This issue has been raised several times in municipal council meetings,” she said.

Officials who arrived for the action Encroachment officer Shailendra Singh Bhadoria holds charge of the South-West and Narela assembly areas. Mahesh Gauhar is responsible for the North assembly constituency and Zones 1 and 20. Arvind Chaudhary works as Bhadoria’s associate. On January 16, Bhopal MP Alok Sharma held a meeting at the collectorate and expressed displeasure over encroachments in the old city markets. Following this, on January 21, the district administration, municipal corporation and police jointly carried out a large-scale drive for three consecutive days, seizing goods loaded in 16 trucks. Despite this, encroachment removal continues. The municipal team again reached Budhwara on Friday. It was during this action that the video alleging illegal collection in the name of encroachment surfaced. Trader: You people take money from here…
Arvind Chaudhary: There’s no need to instruct even a single employee, understood
Mahesh Gauhar: (Telling Arvind) leave it, yaar
Trader: Shops are set up from here to there. Corporation people take money—remember that
Municipal officials: (Do not respond)
Trader: Mayor sir, please see… shops are being set up at Budhwara Chowk. If money is taken, shops are allowed. If money isn’t paid, they don’t allow shops to be set up (In the 39-second video, the trader repeatedly talks about exchange of money, while municipal officials stand nearby and keep listening.)
Encroachment officer says allegations are false Encroachment officer Mahesh Gauhar dismissed the allegations as baseless. He said the shopkeeper was obstructing the action. “This is what he does every time. Whenever we go for action, he indulges in political theatrics and misbehaves with the team,” Gauhar said. Mayor had earlier said: small fish get caught, big ones escape About six months ago, during a municipal council meeting, Mayor Malti Rai had made strong remarks on encroachment. She said that during such drives, honest and small vendors are caught, while the big ones manage to escape. She also pointed out that several employees in the encroachment wing have been posted at the same place for years. The Mayor had asked the then Municipal Commissioner Harendra Narayan to transfer such employees. She also said encroachment has become a major problem in the city because action is carried out only between 10 am and 6 pm. After that, encroachers return to the roads. She suggested that anti-encroachment drives should be conducted in two shifts—one from 10 am to 6 pm and another from 6 pm to 9 pm. She also said Aadhaar verification should be done and it should be ensured that people run businesses where they reside. However, no concrete action has been taken regarding transfers of officers and staff. Encroachment officers continue to remain posted at the same locations for long periods.