Shivamogga: Liquor shop owner made to pay hefty penalty for overcharging

Shivamogga: A liquor shop slapped with a hefty penalty after a consumer dragged him to the consumer disputes redressal commission for charging an extra price of Rs 42 over the MRP.

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Shivamogga, comprising president Chanchala C M, members Savita B Pattanashetti, and P V Lingaraj, slapped a penalty and directed Srinidhi Wines owner to pay compensation to the litigant.

Complainant C Shivaram had purchased Bangalore whisky of 21 pouches of 90 ml each and paid Rs 630 on September 21 last year. The MRP was Rs 27.98 and the actual price was Rs 587.58. However, the wine shop collected Rs 630 from him. When asked, the owner V T Ratnakar gave an evasive reply following which Shivaram approached the commission and sought compensation of Rs 95,000.

The commission while hearing the case asked the wine shop owner to return Rs 42.42 with 10% interest per annum, Rs 1,000 as compensation for deficiency in service, Rs 1,000 towards compensation for mental agony, and Rs 2,500 towards the cost of litigation.

Besides, the commission has also asked the owner to deposit Rs 5,000 to the bank account of the Consumer Welfare Fund of the commission.