Licence Of 4 Jewellery Shops Cancelled, Case Against Another For Cheating Customers: Odisha Minister

Bhubaneswar: Action has been taken against five jewellery shops in the last two years for selling sub-standard gold to customers, Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra told the Odisha Assembly on Wednesday.

Responding to a question by MLA Bibhuti Bhusan Balabantaray, the Minister said that the discrepancies were detected by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

Matter pertaining to Ambika Jewellers in Sambalpur’s Kuchinda is sub-judice. Similarly, license of Rajashree Jewellers in Jagatsinghpur’s Kujang, Suna Ebang Chandi at Puri’s Grand Road, Alankar Jewellers in Sambalpur; and Radhakant Jewellers at Bargarh’s Barapali have been cancelled for selling fake gold.

In 2022-23, cases were registered against 6 jewellery shops due to faults with the weighing machines, and a fines amounting to Rs 23,500 imposed. As many cases were registered in 2023-24 and Rs 1.55 lakh fine imposed. Till 2025 November, four cases have been registered and Rs 48,000 fine collected.

Patra also listed out the steps taken by the Odisha government to curb such illegal practices.

There are 72 laboratories across the state, where weighing devices used in jewellery shops are being inspected under the supervision of assistant controllers and inspectors. Electronic weighing machines and measuring instruments used in jewellery shops are regularly inspected and certified, he said.

Regular surprise raids are also being conducted on jewellery shops. Legal action is initiated and fines are being when necessary. A proposal is in place to form a state-level task force to carry out raids against irregularities in measurements and weights, he added.