Top WR babu says SoBo store cheated him

Colaba cops recommend cancellation of store’s licence after CPRO of Western Railway and other residents complained of bill manipulation

Beware while shopping, grocery stores may be taking advantage of your situation during the Covid- 19 lockdown!

Colaba police have urged the BMC to cancel the licence of south Mumbai’s famous grocery store, Shiv Plaza Super Market, after a case of overcharging and cheating was registered against its owners by Ravinder Bhakar, chief public relations officer of Western Railway, who lives in Badhwar Park, Colaba, a residential complex for railway officers. Following the complaint, several other residents of Badhwar Park also came forward.

After receiving a complaint from Bhakar on May 21, police registered a case against Bhagwanji Lakhamshi Shah and Wadilal Lakhamshi Shah, owners of Shiv Plaza Super Market, on May 22. They have been booked under sections 188 of IPC (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).

A letter from Shivaji Phadtare, senior police inspector of Colaba police station to assistant municipal commissioner, A ward of the BMC, states that from preliminary investigation it appears the grocery store cheated the public and violated government orders, taking advantage of the lockdown. Since such incidents can result in serious law and order situations, the licence of the store must be cancelled, the letter said. Mirror has a copy of the letter.

Bhagwanji Lakhamshi Shah, one of the proprietors of Shiv Plaza Super Market, said the customer was overcharged by mistake. “My staff is new – that’s why it happened. I returned the money and am ready to say sorry again,” he said.

When told that several other people have also complained of being overcharged and cheated during the lockdown, Shah said no such case was registered against him before this incident. “These allegations are not true. Why didn’t they (customers) complain then?”

However, Bhakar, said that within 24 hours of his complaint, more than 20 people came forward and shared their stories on the WhatsApp group of Badhwar Park residents.

“The MRP of cotton bag is mentioned Rs 35 but I was billed Rs 350. Similarly, coffee was also charged almost double its MRP. This was the third incident of overpricing and cheating in the bill by Shiv Plaza in this lockdown period – either by manipulating the quantity or charging above the MRP. So on May 21when I went to the shop and asked the reason for such repeated malpractices and blatant overpricing, the owner got offended and told me not to come to his shop again. He also tried to manhandle me,” said Bhakar.

He said he decided to lodge a formal complaint after several people said they, too, were cheated in the similar manner. The store owners were clearly taking an advantage of the lockdown situation It was well known that he was clearly taking advantage of the situation since the people these days have no choice but to make purchases from their neighbourhood stores.

It was unfortunate that such grocery stores were indulging in profiteering and flouting lockdown rules, he said.

Bhakar urged the people not to tolerate such malpractices, and said they should complain to the authorities concerned so that such offenders can be taught a lesson.

Bought 50 gm dalchini but charged for 500 gm

Ihad ordered some items from Shiv Plaza Super Market, Colaba to be delivered at home on May 9. The store delivered the items, including dalchini, around 10 pm the same day. Due to safety precautions against corona, I didn’t verify the items or check the bill before paying the full amount of Rs 851. Later, while going through the bill, I noticed that the store had charged me Rs 400 for 500 gm of dalchini. 500 gm dalchini is too much for any household. So I tried to call the store and messaged them about it, but there was no response.

The next day, while checking the items, I realised that I had been cheated by the store. They had delivered only 50 gm dalchini and charged me for 500 gm. 50 gm dalchini would have cost just Rs 40. I tried to contact the store on phone the entire day but could not get through. There was no response to SMS or WhatsApp messages either. Late in the evening, I sent my househelp to the store for taking the the excess amount from it. They were initially hesitant, but after much persuasion agreed to refund. The stores is taking advantage of the lockdown and people’s tendency not to immedialty verify the items delivered due to safety reasons. I have now stopped buying from them.
- Devendra Kumar Choudhary, Dy chief engineer, Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation, lives in Badhwar Park

Stopped going there, they manipulate bill

Ihave experienced overcharging. Unbranded products have been marked as Shiv Plaza products, and sold at exorbitant prices. Some items are sold at 25-30 per cent more than Shahkari Bhandar prices. Last week, I purchased two kg of pomegranate for Rs 350 a kg whereas the market price is Rs 200. They have calibrated their bill counter machines in such a manner that an item costing Rs 35-40 is charged Rs 350-400 in the bill. Sometimes they say sorry, sometimes they give you a lecture. Although the store is the nearest to my house, I have stopped going there.
- Anand Kumar, finance advisor and chief accounts officer (construction), WR, lives in Badhwar Park