Gagandeep Singh, the manager of an integrated command and control centre (ICCC) in sector 17 in Chandigarh was arrested by the Chandigarh vigilance cell because he was accused of being part of the gang that usually extorts money from employees on short-term contracts so as to have them renewed.
The arrest of Gagandeep Singh follows the statements provided by two other accused individuals in the case, Kuldeep and Mohan Jangra. Kuldeep, a supervisor affiliated with V INSPIRER Facility Pvt Ltd, a Gurugram-based firm, was responsible for overseeing 55 contract workers deployed for the Smart City Project. Jangra, on the other hand, served as the firm’s operations manager.
Allegations suggest that Kuldeep and Jangra would demand money from contractual employees in exchange for prolonging their service agreements. It’s further alleged that a portion of the extorted funds was funneled to Gagandeep Singh. The investigation into the extortion racket gained momentum when a peon, employed on an outsourced basis at the ICCC, lodged a complaint against Kuldeep, claiming that he had demanded ₹20,000 to secure the continuation of his employment.
In response to these developments, Municipal Commissioner Anindita Mitra, also the CEO of Chandigarh Smart City, took swift action. Gagandeep Singh was promptly dismissed from his position. Additionally, Mitra issued a show-cause notice to V INSPIRER Facility Pvt Ltd, questioning why their services should not be terminated in light of the fraudulent practices committed by their employees.
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The notice emphasized the gravity of the situation, asserting that the arrest of Mohan Kumar, the agency’s authorized representative, indicated the adoption of corrupt and fraudulent practices in the provision of employment. As a result, the contract between the agency and the Smart City Project was deemed compromised and subject to termination.
V INSPIRER Facility Pvt Ltd was given a seven-day period to respond to the show-cause notice, failing which further legal action would be pursued. Mitra’s decisive actions underscored the administration’s commitment to upholding ethical standards and ensuring the integrity of contracts associated with critical municipal projects.
The exposure of this extortion ring is a cause for concern in terms of the susceptibility of contract workers as well as those mechanisms that safeguard their rights and interests in employment.
