FIR lodged against Hyderabad's Sujana Forum Mall for illegal parking fee

Hyderabad: While the government continues to dither on parking fee loot, citizens’ action against illegal parking fees continues. Another FIR, this time against the well-known Sujana Forum Mall, was registered by the KPHB police on a complaint lodged on September 30 by a visitor.

Mr Vijay Gopal, the complainant, alleged that the mall was extracting GST as well levying parking fee illegally.

The bill for Rs 30 for parking for one hour states that the fee is inclusive of GST. “It’s illegal to charge GST on an illegal business. The Hyderabad High Court and norms of the GHMC clearly prohibit commercial establishments from levying parking fee,” said Mr Gopal. He added that the civic body has made it mandatory to leave 44 per cent of the built up area for parking.

The FIR has been booked under Sections 188, 418, 220 of IPC, which amount to wilfully disobeying an order duly promulgated by public servant, cheating with knowledge that wrongful loss may ensue to person whose interest offender is bound to protect, commitment for trial or confinement by person having the authority, who knows that he is acting contrary to law, respectively.

The FIR has also named Y.S. Chowdary, the MP from Andhra Pradesh, who is the owner of the commercial complex and has the mall named after him. The others named in the FIR include Prestige Group and the leasing department’s head as well.

Inspector Ch. Kushalkar, the investigating officer, said, “We have booked an FIR on the cheating aspect of the case. But the GHMC authorities and other authorities granting permissions must also look into the matter for a lasting solution.”

Mr Kushalkar added that investigations were on in the matter. In the last week of August, an FIR had been filed against Inorbit Mall for charging Rs 30 as parking fee for a mere 10 minutes. In this instance, authorities of Forum Sujana Mall were unavailable for comment.