Chennai: The corporation officials who on Tuesday sealed 32 eateries at Ampa Skywalk mall said the action was because the eateries lacked trade licences.The eateries, which have been in business at the Nelson Manickam Road mall for more than five years, indeed didn't have licences but sources say the real reason was because a guard at the mall demanded parking fee from corporation deputy commissioner (health) R Kannan."Kannan went to the mall on Sunday. An attendant stopped and issued him a token for his vehicle. When Kannan refused to pay, the guard said he was not authorised to allow free parking and insisted that he pay up. An angry Kannan warned the guards and left," a source said.On Monday corporation health department staff conducted an inspection and sealed the eateries on Tuesday. "The mall later terminated the guard and tendered an apology to Kannan," said the source.When contacted, Kannan admitted to being stopped at the mall but said the raid and subsequent sealing had nothing to with it. "I was in my official inspection vehicle on Sunday but they stopped me from entering. It is illegal for the eateries to function without a licence. Six of the sealed eateries will be opened on Friday on the condition that they will secure fire dept nod in eight weeks."A senior corporation official said Kannan had gone to the mall as part of a programme to create awareness among voters. "He got complaints from people about the poor quality of food served in eateries and so he ordered an inspection in the next day. The mall doesn't have fire safety clearance."Mall owner Ampa Palaniappan refused to comment on the issue.A licence is mandatory for all trades, including hotels and fast-food units, but shops at the mall don't have it as they are yet to get fire department clearance because of the inadequate setback area. "We have asked them to submit the competition certificate " said Kannan.Many activists have questioned the timing of the raid when most officials are busy with election work. "Why did the corporation not act all these years? Official machinery should not be misused for personal vengeance," said V Gopalakrishnan, RTI activist.On Wednesday, the health department asked zonal level officials to inspect all malls to check if all eateries possessed the required trade licences.