New Delhi, Sep 10 (PTI) At least 56 jewellery and bullion-related shops in Chandni Chowk’s Kucha Mahajani were sealed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Thursday, traders said, claiming that jewellery and bullion worth crores remain locked inside the premises.
The action comes amid an intensified enforcement drive by the MCD against dangerous and illegal buildings across the city following the Satya Niketan building collapse, in which seven people were killed.
MCD officials, however, said 54 illegal shops operating from basements at properties in Kucha Mahajani were sealed on the directions of the Monitoring Committee/Supreme Court.
The civic body said the shops were sealed for carrying out illegal commercial activities in violation of the Unified Building Bye-Laws (UBBL)-2016 and Master Plan Delhi (MPD)-2021, including non-compliance with mandatory Fire Department and other statutory clearances.
“The action was taken against illegal commercial activities being carried out in violation of UBBL-2016 and MPD-2021, including non-compliance with mandatory Fire Department and other statutory clearances, with a view to preventing any untoward incident and safeguarding public safety. Sealing orders were issued under Section 345-A read with Section 347 of the DMC Act, pursuant to which all 54 illegal shops were sealed,” the MCD said in a statement.
Yogesh Singhal, president of the All India Bullion and Jewellers Association, stated that notices were posted on the shops, and the sealing occurred around 11.30 am on Thursday.
“The question to consider is whether, after the Satya Niketan tragedy, only traders will have to bear the brunt of this tragedy or whether action will also be taken against any government department and politicians,” the association said in a statement.
According to traders, the notices affixed to the shops are backdated, with one notice shared by the traders’ association dated May 12, 2026.
“Basement of the property in question, directing thereby to stop misuse of the basement and bring the premises within the permitted use of Master Plan-2021 within 48 hours, as to why the aforesaid be not sealed for commercial activity,” the notice read.
Traders claimed that the MCD and police arrived at Kucha Mahajani and, without prior notice, posted notices on several shops in multiple buildings and executed the sealing simultaneously.
Traders stated they only realised what was happening after arriving at their shops.
The association expressed concern over the significant amount of gold and silver jewellery locked inside the sealed shops. PTI VBH VBH MPL MPL
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