Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) crackdown on illegal encroachments in Dharampeth zone uncovered a disturbing pattern — unauthorised vendors operating with bogus vending licences and brazenly reoccupying public spaces within hours of eviction drives.Assistant municipal commissioner (enforcement) Sanjay Kamble confirmed that four to five vendors were found using fake licences during recent inspections. "These are not isolated cases. We are seeing a pattern where vendors produce forged documents to evade action," he said, indicating the presence of an organised racket behind the malpractice. Now, the NMC's enforcement dept has initiated an inquiry.It was not the first incident that hawkers possessed illegal licence. In the past too, TOI had exposed a possible major scam in the NMC's market dept, where individuals allegedly sold hawker registration certificates with official holograms for Rs1,000 despite the civic body ‘discontinuing' such documents in 2017. Issued under the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM), these certificates — some backdated to 2016-17 — bear authentic-looking stamps and even include precise location and registration details.What has further alarmed officials is the speed at which encroachers return. The anti-encroachment squad identified a similar number of vendors who resumed operations on roads and footpaths shortly after being evicted. "Despite repeated drives, the same individuals return and occupy prime stretches, creating obstructions and defeating the purpose of enforcement," Kamble added.The civic body has now decided to escalate its response. FIRs will be filed against vendors found using fake vending licences, as well as those who repeatedly reoccupy spaces after eviction. Officials say this marks a shift from routine eviction drives to stricter legal action aimed at deterrence.Encroachments have long plagued Dharampeth, particularly around busy stretches like VNIT Square, Yashwant Stadium and Shankar Nagar, where footpaths are routinely taken over, forcing pedestrians on roads and worsening traffic congestion. The issue also raises serious safety concerns, especially during peak hours.Civic officials admit that enforcement has been a challenge due to limited manpower and the persistent nexus between illegal vendors and document forgers. However, they insist that stricter action, including criminal cases, will now be pursued to break the cycle. "The message is clear — fake licences and repeated encroachments will not be tolerated. We will ensure legal consequences for violators," Kamble said.With FIRs on the horizon, the NMC hopes to send a strong signal, but whether this will finally bring lasting relief to encroachment-hit areas remains to be seen.