HYDERABAD: Big establishments including popular hotels, malls and multiplexes like Big Bazaar, More, Ratnadeep, Sitara Grand Hotel, Amaravati Hotel, Santosh Dhaba, Chili’s, VRK Silks and Inox Kachiguda were booked for violating the Anti-profiteering Law in the name of Goods and Services Tax (GST) during raids conducted by the Civil Supplies department on Friday and Saturday. Six cases were booked against Prasad’s Mall alone. Over 357 cases have been booked against establishments across the state over the last two days.
The State Civil Supplies department conducted raids in the wake of rising complaints from customers. The department found that while some businessmen are charging over the MRP on select products, some of them are also collecting additional money in the name of GST.
Based on orders from the Commissioner of Civil Supplies CV Anand, over 357 cases were booked against several establishments.
In Siddipet, based on a complaint received via WhatsApp, Akshaya Bar and Restaurant was booked and a penalty of `25,000 was levied for charging an additional amount on the MRP of water bottles. According to a press release issued by the department, it has come to their notice that some businessmen are also imposing GST on items which do not come under the purview of the said tax system. Some of them, who are not registered under the new tax regime and do not have a unique GST number, are also cheating customers by imposing GST.
The Commissioner has also directed all officers to ensure that there is enough awareness among people, while spreading the message that GST should be charged only by those who are registered. Only those whose businesses come under the purview of the new tax system will be registered.