Metrology department seeks reply from M/s Supreme Books New Delhi, Sahitya Sangam
Police seek the presence of both parties in connection with the enquiry of the complaint
Jammu, Apr 13: Subsequent to the complaint lodged by Virendra Singh Katoch against Sahitya Sangam, Book Shop Kacchi Chawani in the infamous ‘inflated MRP rates’ charged by the alleged bookshop, SDPO City North today directed SHO P/S Pacca Danga for arranging the presence of both Virendra Singh Katoch as well as owner Sahitya Sangam Bookshop in connection with the enquiry of complaint.
It is in place to mention here that JAMMU EXPRESS had exposed the Scam under the caption titled’ Bogus stickers pasted on notebooks MRPs by Sahitya Sangam ‘ in its April 8th edition , following which the UT machinery as well as police department has come into function to take the cognizance of the matter.
Virendra Singh Katoch had filed a complaint against the renowned bookseller Sahitya Sangam, Kacchi Chawni for cheating the clients by putting up inflated MRP stickers on the books and notebooks while shelling extra bucks from the gullible purchasers. Sahitya Sangam booksellers are wholesale distributors for National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) books and hold the monopoly in the state.
Virendra had gone to purchase the books and notebooks for his children and found a sticker pasted on the printed actual MRP of the book which reflected the cost f the book as Rs 200. When he scratched the sticker, actual MRP came up from beneath that read Rs 130 only.
The buyer immediately filed a complaint to Majid Khalil Ahmad Drabu, Controller Legal Metrology, Govt of J&K, which taking the note of offence shot a Challan No 3834 dated 8.4.2023 at M/s Supreme Books New Delhi as well as to Sahitya Sangam on the alleged charges of manipulation and overcharging on original MRP on books . It added that further investigation in the matter shall follow strictly as per provisions of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and Cr PC.
However, an order issued by the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu it has also been released that booksellers are charging the customers on the inflated prices and the practice is illegal and need to be dealt under the law.
Today when both the parties were called at Police station, the persons appearing from Sahitya Sangam had confessed about their fault for overcharging, but put the onus on the publishers at New Delhi.
Virendra Katoch while talking to Jammu Express said that the new appearance date has been fixed for April 15, but stuck on his point to take the case to the logical conclusion.
Katoch has sent the complaints copies, the communication details received from Metrology department as well police department to all higher ups in the UT administration and is awaiting for the justice.
