Bhubaneswar, February 18: A fine to the tune of Rs 80,000 has been collected from at least seven jewellery shops in Odisha during 2025-26 (till January) after errors were found in the weights and measures system.

The illegalities were found during raids by the officials of the Legal Metrology wing under the State Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department in Keonjhar, Smabalpur, Sundergarh and Puri districts in the State.

Replying to query of BJD MLA Prasanta Behera in the State Assembly, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra informed the House that a total of 23 jewellery shops were raided in the State in the past four years and fine to the tune of Rs 3,06,500 have been collected from these shops for cheating consumers in weight and measures.

The Minister informed that during 2025-26 (till January), two jewellery shops each in Keonjhar and Sambalpur and one each in Sudnergarh and Puri districts were raided and a fine to the tune of Rs 80,000 was collected from them for the illegal activities.

Record Rs 1.55 lakh fine was collected from six jewellery shops during 2023-24 FY for cheating customers.