Major Mumbai Malls Are In Trouble For Overcharging On Water And Soft Drinks

Have you ever visited a mall in Mumbai and, after working up a great thirst after a shopping spree, been puzzled that a bottle of water costs so much more? You may have written it off to overheads or taxes, but, according to the department of legal metrology, malls are not allowed to charge more than the MRP for bottled water or soft drinks.

Major Malls Get Booked

The department recently conducted an inspection drive where it looked at the price of water and soft drinks in different leading establishments in major malls in the city. The inspectors registered 18 cases for overcharging customers on drinks.

“Our inspectors found that leading malls like Inox CR-2, Subway Hypercity, Infinity, Big Cinema, Inorbit, Oberoi Mall, Hubb Mall and Movietimes Multiplex, Cinemax, and Anupam Chitramandir in Mumbai were violating the law. In Thane, Orange Hotel and Restaurant at Viviana Mall was doing so,” said Spl IG and controller of legal metrology Amitabh Gupta.

In one establishment, a litre of Kinley water was being sold for Rs.50 (its MRP is Rs.20) while a 5000 ml bottle of Aquafina water, which has an MRP of Rs.10 was being sold for Rs.30. Meanwhile, Miranda, a popular soft drink which normally costs Rs.25 was sold for Rs.60 and a mini Pepsi bottle for Rs.6 was Rs.25.