Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Wednesday initiated action against malls and multiplexes for overpricing drinking water.

“The officials of Legal Metrology have raided shops, malls and multiplexes at 178 locations across the state. Forty-six cases were registered for overpricing drinking water,’’ Minister for Food and Civil Supplies U T Khader told reporters here.

The Department of Legal Metrology has formed 39 teams to conduct raids on malls, shops and multiplexes based on complaints received from consumers.

“We have received many complaints from consumers against overpricing of drinking water and other packaged commodities. This is our first initiative to create awareness against overpricing of drinking water,’’ Minister Khader said.

The raids were conducted in Belgaum, Bengaluru urban, Bengaluru rural, Mangaluru, Gulbarga and Mysuru. “We have booked 10 cases in Bengaluru urban, Bengaluru rural 2, Belgaum 17, Gulbarga 15 and Mysuru 2,’’ Legal Metrology Controller P R Shiva Prasad said.

Over pricing of drinking water (packaged in bottles) is a violation of Packaged Commodity Rules (PCR). “The first instance of violation will attract Rs 2,000 penalty. The violation of Packaged Commodity Rules (PCR) for the second time will attract six months imprisonment,’’ Shiva Prasad said.

The teams of Legal Metrology conducted raids on Garuda Mall, Orion Mall, UB City, Sigma Mall, Gopalan Mall, Forum Mall, Mantri Mall in Bengaluru. “The raids will continue in other places. We want the malls and multiplexes to sell drinking water at maximum retail price (MRP) only. We will take up overpricing of other eatables at malls and multiplexes soon,’’ the food and civil supplies minister said.