Legal Metrology officials raid shops, seize materials
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, SEPT 1
Legal Metrology officials on Wednesday raided shops and establishments and seized materials, which were sold in infringement of Packaged Commodities Rules.
During surprise inspections at Ponda, Panjim, Mapusa, Margao and Vasco, the officials seized 1,837 packages of innerwear garments displayed for sale after altering the original MRP and affixing MRP labels of higher rates.
Controller N M Naik informed that the value of the seized products of brands ‘Euro’, ‘Pintex’, ‘Rupa’, ‘VIP’, etc is worth Rs 1.5 lakh. The Department has booked 13 cases against the offenders with three cases each at Ponda, Margao and Panjim and two cases each at Vasco and Mapusa.
Details of the raided establishments and its owners were not released as the department was carrying out the further probe, which will also decide upon action against holding respective business licenses.
“We have booked the offenders for smudging and altering the MRP by affixing stickers of higher MRP. There are also packages without MRP labels but was put on sale,” he said.
The cases are booked for contravention of the provisions of the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977.
The raids are as a result of the festival season underway and with the approaching Ganesh Chaturthi festival. Naik further said that the raids will continue even as he has urged the consumers to remain vigilant and cautious while purchasing commodities.
Last month, on August 25, the department booked five similar cases and seized 152 packages worth Rs 9,000 from Pernem stores.
