Movie halls raided, cases booked in Tirupati

• Gas delivery boys need not be paid any amount, says Consumer Forum President
• Will request Collector to issue orders for providing parking free in movie theatres

Tirupati: At last, the officials and consumer forum members focussed their attention on high prices being charged for refreshments at cinema theatres in pilgrim city. 

There were many complaints from the public on theatres where the managements have been charging exorbitant prices on items like popcorn, samosa, water bottles and cool drinks. 

Visitors also had to pay abnormal parking charges which varies from theatre to theatre. 

If anyone questions these high prices they have to face bitter experiences with the high handedness of staff working in theatres. 

In view of increased complaints, the Vigilance and Enforcement CI Anju Yadav, Deputy Controller of the Legal Metrology department Ekambareswar Rao, Deputy Commercial Tax officer Srinivasulu, Consumer Forum President T Raja Reddy and member Chittibabu made surprise inspections at two theatres–Sandhya and PGR Cinemas–on Saturday.

They found that water bottles were being sold at more than Maximum Retail Price (MRP) and for other items like cool drinks, popcorn etc., there was no MRP. 

They booked cases for selling water bottles at higher price and instructed them to charge reasonably for popcorn and cool drinks. 

While parking has to be provided free of cost, every theatre has been charging for parking of vehicles. 

The officials have decided to take up the matter with the District Collector seeking him to issue orders to all theatres and business establishments in this regard. 

Speaking to The Hans India, the President of the Consumer Forum Raja Reddy said, “There was no system in our country to fix prices of various commodities. 

For packed items, there will be MRP and the problem arises with non-packed items and we have been receiving various complaints on this”.

Later, they caught an Indian Gas agency lorry near Bairagipatteda where the boy was distributing cylinders for taking higher amount. 

Even, for those who have not booked for refill, they were giving cylinders and cases were filed on both delivery boy and dealer. 

“People should aware of the fact that they need not pay any amount for the delivery of cylinder at door step,” he asserted. 

Similarly, they have raided a water bottle packing unit at Padipeta near Tirupati where they found bottles without MRP and booked a case.