HYDERABAD: Wine shop owners who charged more than MRP have started to pay for the violations as Telangana Prohibition and Excise department has shut down eleven shops for indulging in MRP violations and levied fine of `2 lakh. The action is taken based on complaints lodged through ‘Liquor Price App’ mobile app which was launched on February 10. Apart from accessing prices of 880 alcohol brands, people can lodge complaints against wine stores and upload photos in case of MRP violations, if liquor is sold beyond permitted time (11 pm currently), permit room violations, dilution of liquor, untidy premises.
In a span of 10-days, a whooping 1,167 complaints were only regarding price. “Eleven shops were shut down. Their licence is suspended for seven-days and fine amount of `2 lakh is levied,” said Akun Sabharwal, director (Enforcement), Telangana State Prohibition and Excise department.
Of the 11 erring shops, three are in Warangal, two each in Karimanagar and Nalgonda, one each on Adilabad and Mahbubnagar. It might be ‘shutters down’ for more shops as four teams are investigating the complaints and action was initiated against the stores from the past four-days. Officials from the department said that usually price violation complaints are not received against stores in Hyderabad and on the contrary there are around 10 major stores which sell below MRP. Apart from grievances related to prices, complaints related to other issues were lodged too which officials are going through.Apart from the app, complaints can be lodged through WhatsApp (7989111222), or by dialing toll free number 1800425-2523).