Chandigarh, March 19 -- Mayor Saurabh Joshi has ordered an immediate and time-bound inquiry into serious irregularities, including unpaid dues and illegal hold by a liquor vend near Kalagram, exposing a disturbing nexus of delay, negligence and revenue loss.

The case, involving an estimated financial loss of Rs.70-80 lakh to the Chandigarh municipal corporation (MC), has been termed by the mayor as a "grave administrative failure demanding urgent accountability". The alleged corruption pertains to embezzlement in the Estate Branch of the MC.

Expressing concern, the mayor pointed out that the lease agreement was not executed in time due to apparent lapses at multiple levels, leading to avoidable loss to the public exchequer. The situatio...