Hackers ransack SDMC website, issue 149 licences

Unidentified miscreants hacked the website of South Delhi Municipal Corporation’s (SDMC) factory licensing department and issued 149 factory licences to various companies besides distorting its contents, said a police officer.

The corporation lodged a complaint of hacking and forgery with the Delhi Police cyber cell on Friday. The civic agency officials said the culprits distorted the home page of the website and issued 149 factory licenses fraudulently.

The licensing department told the police in its complaint that under the e-governance scheme, factory owners can submit online application with scanned copy of necessary documents for obtaining a licence. “After submission of application and depositing the required fee online, an owner can himself take the print-out of the provisional licence which is valid for a period of 90 days from the date of issue,” said a corporation official. The factory inspector scrutinises the documents and submits the file to senior officer.

The deputy commissioner grants or rejects the licences online. “The corporation found that between August 17 and August 24 last year, someone hacked the website and granted 149 licenses. During this period, the corporation had not issued any licence online,” the FIR said.
The corporation submitted addresses of all factory owners who got licences during this period. “Our information technology department conducted the probe into the matter and found that licences were issued through fraudulent manner,” said the official.

“We have registered a case under appropriate sections and investigating the matter. It is too early to say who are involved,” said a police officer.