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New DelhiJun 23, 2026 03:50 PM IST A Rajasthan hotel was ordered to pay Rs 12,020 after charging a consumer Rs 20 above the MRP for two mineral water bottles.(AI generated Image)A consumer who was charged Rs 20 extra on two mineral water bottles at a hotel in Chittorgarh has secured Rs 12,020 payout from the Rajasthan State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, which held that unlawful overcharging, even of a small amount, cannot be ignored merely because the monetary loss suffered by the consumer is minimal. Judicial member Mukesh and member Raminivas Saraswat from Circuit Bench at Udaipur, was hearing an appeal filed by consumer Ashish Kumar Kothari against Hotel The Grand Chittor (The Alfresco) after he challenged a June 26, 2024 order of the District Consumer Commission, Chittorgarh.“It is not necessary that a consumer cannot suffer mental agony merely because the excess amount charged is Rs 20. When an additional amount is illegally collected from a consumer, the mental distress naturally caused by such conduct cannot be ignored,” the commission said on June 19, 2026. Background Ashish Kumar Kothari visited Hotel The Grand Chittor, Chittorgarh, on January 31, 2022, and ordered food along with two bottles of mineral water. The hotel generated a bill of Rs 2,199 for the meal, which included charges for the two water bottles purchased by the consumer. Upon examining the bill, Kothari noticed that each bottle carried an MRP of Rs 20 but had been billed at Rs 30. Kothari claimed that he immediately objected to the excess charge and requested that the amount be refunded to him. According to the complaint, the hotel staff refused to return the excess amount despite being informed that the charge exceeded the printed MRP. Alleging deficiency in service and unfair trade practice, Kothari subsequently approached the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chittorgarh. District commission’s decision On June 26, 2024, the district commission partly allowed the complaint and directed the hotel to refund the excess amount of Rs 20. The commission also awarded litigation costs of Rs 1,100 but declined to grant any compensation for mental agony. Unsatisfied with the limited relief, Kothari challenged the order before the Rajasthan State Consumer Commission. He argued that the district commission failed to adequately compensate him for the inconvenience and harassment caused by the hotel’s conduct.Story continues below this ad Hotel’s defence The hotel denied any deficiency in service and contended that customers visited the establishment not only for food but also for its ambience and facilities. It submitted that the property offered several amenities and that guests paid for the overall experience available at the hotel. The hotel further maintained that branded mineral water had been supplied and sought dismissal of the complaint. Appeal proceedings Before the state commission, Kothari argued that the hotel had charged one-and-a-half times the MRP for the water bottles sold to him.Story continues below this ad He also submitted that pursuing consumer litigation involves expenditure of time, effort and resources beyond mere filing expenses. According to him, the district commission erred in not awarding compensation for the mental harassment resulting from the unlawful charge. The hotel, on the other hand, argued that an excess charge of Rs 20 could not reasonably be treated as causing mental agony. It further contended that the complainant had not suffered any substantial loss warranting enhancement of compensation.Story continues below this ad Findings of the state commission The state commission noted that the hotel had not challenged the finding of deficiency in service recorded by the district commission. As a result, the finding that the consumer had been wrongly overcharged had attained finality. Rejecting the hotel’s argument on mental agony, the commission held that the amount involved was not the dete

The victim’s family and villagers placed the body on the road and staged a protest for several hours. Two days after the killing of a 29-year-old Dalit man sparked tensions in the Bakhira area, police in Sant Kabir Nagar on Saturday arrested three suspects, including the main suspect whose home was set on fire by an angry mob during protests over the murder. The victim was attacked and killed with a sharp-edged weapon allegedly by a man from another community. The incident led to communal tension and protests in the area.“We have arrested all three accused, including Nasir Ali (20) who was named in the FIR. They were produced before the court which sent them to judicial custody,” said Uma Shankar, Station House Officer of Bakhira police station. The other two accused were identified as Nirahu (21) and Jaigham (35). While Nasir and Jaigham run a meat shop in the area, Nirahu runs a barber shop, police said. According to police, the victim, Anand, was returning home on Thursday when he was attacked near the Babhni crossing. The accused allegedly slit his throat and fled the scene, it was claimed. The victim’s family and villagers placed the body on the road and staged a protest for several hours. Tension escalated when an angry crowd set fire to the house of the main accused, Nasir Ali. Senior police and administrative officials rushed to the village and held talks with the victim’s family and local residents. The protest ended after officials assured the family of a fair investigation, prompt arrests and strict legal action against those involved. Police later sent the body for a post-mortem examination. Police said a preliminary probe suggested the murder was linked to a dispute during a local function about 10 days ago. The victim’s niece had allegedly complained to Anand that Nasir Ali, had harassed her during the event.

BhubaneswarUpdated: Jun 19, 2026 04:57 AM IST Officials said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi approved Gangwar’s suspension following an inquiry into allegations that the deceased constable had been illegally engaged in domestic work.The Odisha government Thursday suspended senior IPS officer Dayal Gangwar following an inquiry into allegations that a 32-year-old constable who was lynched at Balianta last month had been illegally engaged in domestic work while serving under him. Officials said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi approved Gangwar’s suspension following an inquiry into allegations that the deceased constable had been illegally engaged in domestic work. While Gangwar was not directly linked to the lynching, the parents of constable Soumya Ranjan Swain accused him of “physically and mentally” harassing their son while he worked under him.The officer could not be reached for comment on his suspension. A 1998-batch IPS officer, Gangwar was transferred to the Home Department as OSD on May 26 in what was widely seen as a “punishment posting” after Swain’s lynching at Balianta, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, on May 7 triggered allegations of misuse of official authority. An ADG-rank officer was assigned to probe the allegations against Gangwar. Soumya’s father, Dushasan Swain, alleged that Gangwar, then ADG (Railways), forced his son to perform personal duties unrelated to official work. He also claimed that Gangwar pressured him to invest in a gym owned by an associate and did not return the money, adding to his stress. The parents further alleged that the IPS officer had deployed more staff at his residence than he was entitled to. Reacting to the incident, Swain’s mother, Kabita Swain, said these allegations should be brought within the ambit of the lynching probe.Story continues below this ad The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which also conducted an inquiry into the lynching, recorded Gangwar’s statement. Soumya Ranjan Swain was beaten to death, 16 km from his home at Maujpur in Cuttack, after the motorcycle he was riding pillion on collided with a scooter near a small bridge in the Balianta area near the state capital. The two women on the scooter accused Swain of attempting to sexually assault them, following which a mob of 40-50 people allegedly assaulted him and his friend, Om Prakash Rout, who was driving the motorcycle. Rout escaped with minor injuries. Swain’s family accused Odisha Police of failing to stop the assault. Four junior police officers were later suspended. Sujit Bisoyi is a Special Correspondent with the Indian Express and covers Odisha. His interests are in politics, policy and people’s stories. He tweets at @bisoyisujit87 ... Read More Tags: Odisha Odisha police

Kathmandu, PatnaJun 17, 2026 06:54 PM IST Prince Yadav (left) with brother and Gyan Bindu director Raushan Anand. (Special Arrangement)A preliminary autopsy of Prince Yadav, an accused in the June 2 violence case linked to educator and YouTuber Faisal Khan, popularly known as Khan Sir, has indicated “no foul play”, The Indian Express has learnt. Viscera samples have, however, been sent to Kathmandu for further forensic examination. The development comes two days after Prince’s brother, Gyan Bindu Coaching Institute director Raushan Anand, alleged a conspiracy behind the 24-year-old’s death and claimed he had faced pressure to compromise in the dispute surrounding the June 2 violence while lodged in jail.According to Nepal Police sources, the post-mortem conducted in Biratnagar did not reveal any evidence of foul play. Sources indicated a heart condition was noticed in the autopsy, but it is not clear whether that is linked to the death. The viscera report is expected in the coming days. Shortly after being released on bail on June 15, Anand alleged that two security guards associated with Khan Global Studies (KGS) had tried to pressure him into a compromise while he was in jail. He also claimed there had been a conspiracy to kill him in custody. Referring to his brother’s death, Anand alleged that he had received a warning on June 13 that he would face consequences if he did not agree to a settlement. The two guards were arrested on June 4. Prince had travelled to Biratnagar, near the Bihar border, reportedly with four friends, and checked into a hotel a few days before his death. Police said he complained of uneasiness before being taken to a local hospital, where he was declared brought dead. The four companions, all residents of Bihar’s Saharsa district, were questioned as part of the investigation. Prince’s death comes against the backdrop of the probe into the violence outside the KGS Musallahpur Haat branch in Patna on June 2 and subsequent events.Story continues below this ad According to an FIR lodged by KGS manager Kanhaiya Kumar Singh, 15-20 people allegedly associated with Gyan Bindu Coaching Institute attacked the premises, assaulted a security guard, damaged property, tore down boards and banners, and threatened to “blow up” the institute within two days. The FIR named Raushan Anand, Prince Yadav, Abhishek, Gaurav and several unidentified persons. Police arrested Anand, Abhishek and Gaurav on June 3. The controversy widened after videos surfaced purportedly showing two KGS security guards firing outside the institute following the violence. After their arrest, the guards allegedly told police they had acted on Khan’s instructions, prompting police to book Khan, the two guards and others for attempted murder and under the Arms Act – allegations Khan has denied. On June 9, Khan was granted protection from arrest until the next hearing on June 20. Meanwhile, security was tightened outside the KGS premises following Prince’s death. Himanshu Harsh is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, currently leading on-the-ground coverage in Bihar. With a reporting career rooted in the complexities of the National Capital Region (NCR), Himanshu specializes in the critical intersection of law, crime, and civic governance. Professional Expertise & Credentials An alumnus of the prestigious Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi, Himanshu brings a rigorous academic foundation to his investigative work. His expertise is characterized by a "ground-up" reporting style, most notably demonstrated during his extensive coverage of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where he analyzed shifting political landscapes and grassroots sentiment. Specialized Beats Himanshu’s portfolio reflects versatility, allowing him to navigate diverse industries and social issues: Civic & Legal Affairs: Extensive experience covering the Delhi reporting beat, focusing on policy implementation and judicial impact. Automotive Industry: