Dehradun: Following complaints of overpricing at liquor shops, Dehradun DM Savin Bansal conducted a surprise raid on Wednesday evening, posing as a customer. At a liquor shop on Rajpur Road, the shopkeeper sold a bottle of liquor to the DM at an inflated price.
After this, DM Bansal also talked to the people present at the shop to buy liquor, who confirmed that liquor was being sold at overrated prices. Consequently, the District Magistrate imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the liquor shop owner.
DM posed as a common customer
Overpricing at liquor shops in Dehradun continues unabated, with shopkeepers charging customers an extra Rs 10 to Rs 20. District Magistrate Savin Bansal had been receiving numerous complaints about this issue for several days. On Wednesday evening, DM Bansal decided to investigate personally. He visited a liquor shop on Old Mussoorie Road in his private car and, posing as a regular customer, bought a bottle of liquor. The shopkeeper, unaware of his identity, sold a bottle priced at Rs 660 for Rs 680.
Irregularities were found in liquor shops
District Magistrate Savin Bansal stated that raids were conducted on liquor shops following numerous complaints. During these raids, irregularities and overpricing were discovered at a shop on Rajpur Road, resulting in a Rs 50,000 fine for the shop owner. During the inspections, it was also noted that the salesmen’s behaviour towards customers was very rude. It was also found that the rate list was not displayed at the shop. Hence, the customers were not able to see the rates clearly. Besides, the liquor shop employees didn’t have identity cards.
Issued Challan of Rs 2.5 Lakh for overpricing liquor
Additionally, the ADM and SDM conducted simultaneous raids across the district. They issued fines of Rs 75,000 each to liquor shops at Chuna Bhatta and Survey Chowk, and Rs 50,000 to a shop at Jakhan for overpricing. Overpricing and other irregularities were found at all these locations, prompting further action.