1,500 Cases Booked for Overpricing and MRP Fraud in Visakhapatnam

Enforcement officials have detected widespread violations in retail trade practices, with nearly 1,500 cases registered in the current fiscal year for overpricing and breaches of legal metrology rules.

Inspections in Visakhapatnam revealed that some traders erased the printed Maximum Retail Price (MRP) on items such as ice creams, sweets, and chocolates and sold them at higher rates. In several cases, locally printed stickers were placed over original company labels to hide the actual price. Officials also found instances where retailers displayed inflated MRPs and later showed discounts on bills, creating a misleading impression of savings.

Teams also detected manipulation of weights and measures and the sale of products that lacked mandatory address details. Authorities said these practices violate consumer protection norms. Fines exceeding Rs 1 crore have been collected so far.

Packaging rule violations were noticed in some textile and grocery shops, shopping malls, mobile phone accessory outlets, and automobile spare parts stores. Certain electrical shops were also found selling substandard materials.

Deputy Controller K. Thomas Ravikumar said consumers can report cases where wholesalers charge retailers excess rates or where shopkeepers overcharge buyers. Based on public complaints, special teams are being formed to carry out inspections, he said.