Nagpur traders allege extortion by local leaders who threaten FDA and police raids

Traders in Nagpur's Itwari, Vardhamannagar and Kalamna areas have alleged that some local leaders of the ruling party visit godowns and shops and pressure them in various ways. The traders say videos of them are shot in the name of making reels, and money is then demanded.

According to the traders, some local leaders keep hovering around godowns, transport offices and shops. As soon as a truck arrives with goods, they turn up. Besides inspecting the goods, they insist on seeing the papers. A reel of the truck, shop or godown is then made. The traders say that when they refuse to pay, the leaders call in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the police and threaten a raid.

The traders' suspicion is deepened by the fact that the officials concerned reach the spot immediately on a single phone call from these leaders. The traders have alleged that the leaders and the officials are in collusion.

The traders said complaints in this matter have been made earlier to the Police Commissioner and the FDA Commissioner. Senior officials had also been informed about the role of local-level officials. They say that after a complaint the activity stops for a while, but as soon as things cool down, the same pattern begins again.

The fear of seizure of goods weighs most heavily on the traders. Once the FDA seizes goods, they remain held up for a long time until the laboratory report arrives. To avoid action, traders therefore give in to the pressure. It is also said that the lack of unity among traders encourages the practice. Many traders are not prepared to make repeated rounds of police and FDA offices, and consider it better to come to terms with the situation than to complain.

Traders dealing in groceries, oil, spices, milk, paneer and betel nut are said to be troubled by all this. Their goods stay held up until the test result comes, and their capital is tied up in them. The fear generated in the name of raids has therefore become a major problem for traders.

NVCC president Swapnil Ahirkar said the business climate is good and it is everyone's responsibility to maintain it. According to him, the practice of going to business establishments late at night and getting them opened is not right. Such acts hurt the city's business climate. He said a delegation would soon meet senior officials to put the facts before them and demand appropriate action.