Panchkula: A city-wide verification drive carried out by Panchkula police has found six to seven delivery personnel working with various companies facing criminal cases, prompting the department to seek explanations from the firms concerned.“Following our verification drive, we found six to seven people with criminal cases. This is a serious matter. We are writing to the companies asking what checks were conducted before hiring them and why persons with such backgrounds were employed,” Panchkula police commissioner Pankaj Nain told TOI.Nain said police were compiling details of the cases and a comprehensive report would be prepared before further information is shared.The findings emerged during a special drive launched to verify delivery personnel working with online food-delivery, e-commerce and other companies operating in the district. Teams from police stations, police posts and special units collected and verified their records, including identity and background details.During the exercise, information such as names, mobile numbers, permanent and present addresses, identity documents and company details was collected. Companies and agencies were also directed to maintain complete employee records and ensure periodic verification.Police contacted the offices of various delivery firms operating in the district and obtained data relating to their riders. The verification included checks of identities, addresses and criminal records.Officials said the exercise was aimed at strengthening security and maintaining an effective information network, rather than targeting any particular profession or group.The police also want to ensure that employment records are updated whenever a delivery worker leaves one company and joins another. According to officials, this would help authorities identify and trace individuals more effectively if required during any investigation.The development assumes significance as delivery personnel have regular access to residential neighbourhoods across the city, including homes occupied by senior citizens living alone.Why the findings matterDelivery personnel make regular visits to residential areas across the cityMany elderly residents in Panchkula live alonePolice say updated records can help identify and trace individuals if required during investigationsCompanies asked to maintain verified employee databasesDrive aimed at strengthening security, not targeting any professionWhat firms may have to explainBackground checks conducted before hiringWhether criminal records were disclosed during recruitmentEmployee verification mechanisms in placeProcess for updating records when riders switch companiesSteps to strengthen screening of field staff
