New Delhi, Sept. 11 -- The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Thursday sealed several jewellery units in basements of buildings in Chandni Chowk's Kucha Mahajani over alleged misuse of basements for commercial activities, officials said. Traders alleged that they were given no prior warning about Thursday's action, leaving bullion worth crores of rupees locked inside some of them.

According to MCD, teams, accompanied by police personnel, arrived around 11.30am and began sealing the units. Notices pasted outside the shops stated that the basements were being used for commercial purposes in violation of the Master Plan for Delhi-2021.

"Notice was issued to the owner of the shop directing thereby to stop the misuse of the basement and...