Shopkeepers booked for selling pulse oximeters at higher prices

Shopkeepers booked for selling pulse oximeters at higher prices

Mungara.Sunil@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:21.05.2021

Exploiting the precarious situation, several medical shops are making a killing by jacking up the prices of pulse oximeters and sanitizers. Instead of selling them at MRP, the shopkeepers are hiding the price by sticking blank labels on them.

Confirming these violations, assistant controller of legal metrology department Shivanand said that raids are being conducted on several medical shops. “Our special teams have raided several shops and found that a few are violating norms. We have raided 110 medical shops so far and imposed penalties. A reputed medical shop was fined Rs 25,000 for selling pulse oximeters and sanitizers at higher prices,” said Shivanand, adding that cases were booked for violating the compulsory mask rule.

“So far 12 cases were booked and Rs 23,000 fined was imposed for violating the compulsory mask rule,” he added.

The official made it clear that they have no intention to harass the shopkeepers.

“Our intention is not to harass the shopkeepers by imposing penalties and booking cases. We are coming hard on those greedy who are exploiting the rush because of the pandemic situation and the lockdown. Some shops are illegally hiking the price of oximeters by about 95 to 120%.

Officials conduct a raid at a medical shop