It also detained Wasa, Chittagong Revenue Supervisor Abdul Mannan and Meter Inspector Md Jasim Uddin and released them after realising Tk 10000 from each on charges of helping the commercial firms pilfer Wasa water.

Sources said the mobile court in the drive at Majhirghat and Sadarghat areas found various irregularities at the five commercial buildings like taking residential connections, paying a little Wasa bill every month showing the metre out of order and installing motors to pilfer water from Wasa supply lines.

Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Magistrate Mohammad Munir Chowdhury, who is also serving WASA, Chittagong as an additional duty, led the drive.

Meanwhile, the same court fined 23 inland commercial and marine fishing vessels Tk 2 lakh for not paying port dues and river dues in the last two days.

In another drive, the court five commercial firms Tk 90000 for occupying streets with construction materials and encroaching drains with illegal structures under the 'Operation Safeguard Civic Right' at Sagarika BSCIC Industrial Area, Agrabad Access Road, Sadarghat and Pathantuli areas.

The firms include Monilac Paint, Manjuma Palace - a community centre and IB Motors.