54 jewellery shops sealed in Delhi's Chandni Chowk over unauthorised basement use
54 jewellery and bullion-related shops in Delhi's Chandni Chowk area were sealed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Thursday, leaving gold and silver jewellery and bullion worth crores locked inside the premises, claim traders.
The sealing took place at Kucha Mahajani around 11.30 am, according to Yogesh Singhal, president of the All India Bullion and Jewellers Association. Traders said notices were affixed to several shops across multiple buildings before the sealing action was carried out simultaneously.
The action comes amid an intensified MCD drive against dangerous and illegal buildings in the national capital following the Satya Niketan building collapse, in which seven people were killed.
Traders alleged that the MCD and police reached Kucha Mahajani and carried out the action without giving them prior notice. They said many shopkeepers only realised what was happening after they arrived at their establishments.
The All India Bullion and Jewellers Association questioned whether traders alone should face the consequences following the Satya Niketan tragedy.
"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 the traders, the notices pasted on the shops were backdated. One notice shared by the association was dated May 12, 2026.
The notice directed the concerned party to stop the misuse of the basement and bring the premises within the permitted use under Master Plan-2021 within 48 hours. It also stated that the premises could be sealed for commercial activity.JEWELLERY LOCKED INSIDE
Traders expressed concern over the substantial quantity of gold and silver jewellery and bullion that remains inside the sealed shops.
They said jewellery worth crores belonging to jewellers is currently locked inside the premises and urged authorities to take the situation into consideration.
As of now, there has been no immediate response from the MCD to the traders' claims.- EndsWith inputs from PTIPublished By: Tanu jainPublished On: Sep 10, 2026 19:29 IST
