Hyderabad: Legal metrology department has booked over 1,062 cases against shopping malls, multiplexes, hotels, restaurants, bars and sweet shops over the past six days as part of a special drive against GST and MRP violations across Telangana. Legal metrology controller C.V. Anand said that the drive will continue as the department has been receiving large scale complaints from consumers against GST and MRP violations. Violators have been charged over Rs 10 lakh in the form of penalty so far.
The raids found that shops and commercial establishments were charging GST on MRP and on zero tax slab items. In the last six days, the department conducted over 5000 raids and inspected various businesses. Mr Anand said, “As many as 1,062 cases have been booked so far and Rs 10.62 lakh has been imposed as penalties. Few more cases are in the trail stage and a majority of the cases have been booked in Hyderabad.”
Cases have been booked against Hyderabad Central, PVR Cinemas, KFC, Mc Donald, Prasads Imax, Subway, Sujana Mall, Blue Fox Restaurant, Shanbagh, Golconda Hotel and Park Hotel. He said that they were cheating consumers by charging GST on MRP although GST is included in MRP. He said that they will continue raiding businesses.The fine for first time offenders ranges from Rs 2000 to Rs 25,000 and from the second offence onwards, the penalty will be doubled, he added.
