Weights fraud sparks departmental crackdown

In a disturbing trend, fraudulent practices related to weights have surged across the district, prompting the Weights and Measures Department to conduct extensive raids. Numerous complaints from customers, who have detected significant weight discrepancies in products purchased from Kirana shops and mutton outlets, triggered the ongoing investigations.
Deputy Controlling Officer of the Weights and Measures Department, K Thomas Ravikumar, raised an alarm over the increasing scams involving deceptive weighing scales. These scams impact a broad spectrum of products, ranging from rice and gold to milk, oil, vegetables, and meat. Ravikumar highlighted the financial losses incurred by consumers due to their lack of awareness about these fraudulent practices.
During the ongoing raids, an astonishing 759 cases of weight fraud have been unearthed in the State. The crackdown revealed 90 cases in the Visakha district, 424 cases in the Anakapalli district, and 45 cases in the Alluri Seetharamaraju district. In addition to weight fraud, 622 cases were filed against traders and business establishments for violating package terms, resulting in fines totaling Rs 83,59,500 from April to October this year.
Ravikumar pointed out that traders are not only involved in weight fraud but are also violating package terms by tampering with price stickers. “They are removing price stickers and putting on new ones with higher prices,” he stated, emphasizing the need for stringent action against such malpractices.