Pradeep Singh

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Consumer Welfare Minister, Ranendra Swain today informed that raids were conducted at 42 jewellery shops in the past two years for cheating customers in weight and measures.

Replying to a question in Odisha Assembly, Swain said, "31 raids were conducted on jewellery shops in 2018-19 while 11 raids have so far been conducted this year."

As many as seven jewellery shops in Cuttack, six in Balasore and four in Khurda were found to have cheated consumers in weight and measure of ornaments. All of them were fined, added Swain.

However, Congress MLA Narasingha Mishra raised questions over the data provided by Swain and said the Minister should clarify whether big jewellery shops were raided or just small shops to increase the number of raids.

Later, Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro directed the Directorate of Legal Metrology to conduct raids at the jewellery shops located in Bhubaneswar and Berhampur.

Meanwhile, people feel that strong action along with hefty fines is needed to stop such malpractice by jewellers. "There is need of some stern action else people will continue to get cheated," said a local from Cuttack.

"It's a welcome step from the government to raid such shops. Whoever is cheating customers should be taken to task," said Kishan Lal Gupta, director of Lalchnd Jewellers.

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