350 cases of GST violations booked
The cases were booked against malls, multiplexes, shops and other commercial establishments for GST and MRP violations.
Hyderabad: The legal metrology department has booked over 350 cases across the state against malls, multiplexes, shops and other commercial establishments for GST and MRP violations in two days.
The department has taken up a special drive to book shops and commercial establishments resorting to MRP and GST violations.
Raids were carried out on malls, hotels, bakeries, multiplexes, bars and restaurants. Six cases have been booked against traders in Prasad’s Imax. Shanbagh Hotel in Punjagutta was booked for violation of the packaged commodity rules. Dock Forty Five bar in Jubilee Hills was booked for selling water and soda bottles at a high price.
C.V. Anand, civil supplies commissioner and legal metrology commissioner, said that the drive will continue. Mr Anand added that the cases were also booked against Big Bazaar, More, Ratnadeep, Sitara Grand Hotel, Amaravathi Hotel, Santhosh Dhaba, Chilly's, Inox Kachiguda, Imax Khairatabad, VRK Silk, etc. It was found that commercial establishments were collecting GST over MRP and also collecting GST on items that are listed under the zero tax category in the GST regime.
The drive was taken up after the helpline numbers set by the legal metrology department received many calls from consumers.
In Siddipet, officials raided Akshaya Bar and Restaurant and found the owners collecting higher GST and imposed a penalty of Rs 25,000.
“We will not spare those who fleece consumers in the name of GST. There are chances of traders going scot-free by taking advantage of loopholes in the existing Act. We directed officials to guard against this,” Mr Anand said.