Andhra Temple Shop’s Rs 7 Water Bottle Overcharge Ends in Rs 7 Lakh Penalty

<p>A temple shop in Andhra Pradesh has been ordered to pay a hefty Rs 7 lakh penalty after allegedly charging a devotee more than the printed price of a water bottle. Additionally, the store was instructed by the East Godavari District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission to pay the complaint and return the extra money.</p><p>D Venkateswara Rao filed the lawsuit against Satya Deva Fancy Coconuts and Cool Drinks, a licensed business that operates on the grounds of Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy Vari Devasthanam in Annavaram. The Commission discovered that the seller had collected Rs 7 more than the packed water bottle's Maximum Retail Price (MRP) in its order dated August 28, 2026, which was issued in response to a consumer complaint.</p><p>The commission granted the complainant Rs 10,000 as compensation and Rs 5,000 for litigation costs in addition to directing a return of the extra Rs 7. The merchant was also instructed to deposit Rs 7 lakh with the Consumer Welfare Fund.</p><p>Additionally, the Commission gave the Devasthanam instructions to exercise its supervisory authority to make sure that all authorised stores on the temple grounds prominently display the MRP of packaged goods.</p><p>The guidelines are meant to protect devotees' consumer rights and stop similar cases of overcharging.</p><p>Stricter oversight of businesses operating within the temple grounds and more adherence to MRP regulations are anticipated to result from the ruling.</p>