Liquor stores continue to charge above MRP despite min’s warnings

Ranchi: Contractual operators of licenced (India Made Foreign Liquor) stores of JSBCL (), who have been roped in by private human resource agencies to man the liquor shops in the city, are brazenly ignoring the excise minister's directives on overpricing.Late last month, excise and prohibitions minister Yogendra Prasad had warned the shop operators of stern action if they were found overcharging from consumers over MRPs. However, Prasad's warnings have gone unheeded as overpricing remains brazen across the city's liquor shops. Souvik Sen, a private professional, walked into Doze, a swanky IMFL shop in Circular Road on Thursday to grab his favourite brand of rum. "At first, the operators said there was a shortage of rum. Then, they pulled out a bottle of a relatively lesser known brand. It was priced at Rs 150 (180ml) but the man at the counter said I needed to pay Rs 180. When I protested, he said: lena hai to dena padhega (you have to pay extra to get the bottle)," Sen told TOI on Friday. Chetan Kumar Singh, sales manager in a paint company, said, "Be it whiskey, vodka or rum, shops are charging anywhere between Rs 10-40 extra on each bottle." Adding to the woes of tipplers are the shortages of rum at the liquor stores. "It is a strange situation in Ranchi. During summers, supply of premium beer brands runs dry when its demand peaks. Likewise, premium brands of rum have run dry in the winter months," Arvind Mahto, another consumer from Booty More, said. When contacted, Prasad said four to five FIRs are being lodged each day against the erring shop operators. "I am aware that despite my warnings, the situation is yet to improve. We will begin cracking down on these people very soon," Prasad told TOI from Vellore, where he is currently undergoing a medical checkup.