Outlets at 14 Hyderabad multiplexes booked for charging over MRP and other violations

Some of the largest malls in Hyderabad were raided including GVK 1, Prasads, Inorbit and Manjeera Mall among others.

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Authorities of Telangana legal metrology on Sunday raided several major multiplexes across Hyderabad and said that they filed 105 cases against 14 multiplexes in the city.

Some of the largest malls in Hyderabad were raided including GVK one, Prasads, Inorbit and Manjeera Mall among others.

The raids were conducted after customers complained that the malls were charging exorbitant rates for beverages, including water.

"The MRP on products should be uniform, during raids we have found out that brands like Kinley, which manufactures water, has one water product which would be sold in the main stream and is sold at a price between Rs 10 to Rs 12 and the same water product is sold at Rs 60 in the multiplexes, which is a violation of metrology norms," Bhaskar Reddy, assistant controller, legal metrology Hyderabad, was quoted as saying.

“There were 15 teams which set out on the raids based on consumer complaints. We found that neither weight nor price was mentioned on popcorn and on soft drink glasses. We have booked cases as per the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodity) Rules of 2012,” Reddy added.

Controller of Legal Metrology Akun Sabharwal said in a statement, that all packaged products must display the MRP which they are being sold at.

This raid by officials is the latest in a series of recent checks carried out by the department.

Last month, officials of the department conducted raids on four major malls in Hyderabad and registered over 100 cases against various outlets for violating the rules. Officials also seized goods and property worth Rs 72 lakh.

The officials registered cases where they found violation of regulations such as failing to display all the mandated details about the products being sold, and selling a product above the maximum retail price (MRP).

In November last year, the department undertook a special drive across the state following complaints of misuse of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and fined over 1,000 outlets.

The Telangana Legal Metrology Department also said that any consumers who felt that the rules were violated could lodge a complaint with a separate grievance cell on WhatsApp number 7330774444 or lodge a complaint through e-mail to clm-ts@nic.in.

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