Daijiworld Media Network - Belagavi (SP)

Belagavi, May 19: Sub-divisional officer of the city, Kavita, and tahsildar, Girish Swadi, who raided Inox multiplex in the city on Thursday, locked up the movie theatre after observing that drinking water bottles and other eatables were being sold at exorbitant prices there.

Deputy commissioner of the district, N Jayaram, had received complaints from some members of the general public about sale of water and food items at high prices in this multiplex. The deputy commissioner had asked the assistant commissioner, Kavita, and tahisldar, to check the facts and submit report.

The two stood in queue like commoners on Thursday, bought tickets, and entered the movie theatre. They found that items on sale were priced more than 200 percent in some cases. When questioned, the staff behaved rudely with them, to the dismay of the officials. They brought this state of affairs to the notice of the deputy commissioner over phone. The deputy commissioner asked them to act against the multiplex. The officials then locked up the multiplex.

Drinking water bottles priced at Rs 20 were found to be sold for Rs 50, while eatables which had a price tag of Rs 10 and 20 were sold for Rs 40 to 60, and in some cases, Rs 100. By packaging some food items, customers were fleeced by hiking the prices abnormally, it is said. Assistant commissioner, Kavita, said that the multiplex was locked up for selling items at unusually high rates.