City police officers and civic officials will be booked for extortion if they are caught taking bribes from illegal hawkers, according to a directive by the police chief.

Commissioner of Police (CP) Sanjay Pandey issued the order after multiple complaints and suggestions from Mumbaikars through social media. Pandey, who had been consulting with  BMC officials on action against illegal hawkers, has asked the Crime Branch to register extortion cases against officers, officials from the BMC and other concerned authorities who take bribes and allow illegal hawkers to mushroom in the city, sources said.