Salt price hike rumours baseless: Mumbai police

There were rumours about some shop owners selling salt at Rs 700 per kg in eastern suburbs of Mumbai

Mumbai, Nov 12: Police here on Friday stepped in to dispel rumours about "steep hike" in prices of essential commodities, including salt.

"Rumours about price hike are doing rounds. These are baseless," police spokesperson DCP Ashok Dudhe said. Mumbai police control room was inundated with frantic calls from people wanting to know if the prices had really skyrocketed.

There were rumours about some shop owners selling salt at Rs 700 per kg in eastern suburbs. After demonetisation of high currency notes of Rs 1,000 and 500, people are facing shortage of cash.

Rumours were spread about shortage of salt and sugar, police said. Some shop owners in eastern suburbs took advantage of the situation, police said.

Shop owners from Govandi, Shivajinagar, Bainganwadi, Mankhurd, Antop hill were allegedly selling salt at higher rates. Some citizens contacted police control room and provided information.

Police teams visited these shops to stop such sales. Police then appealed Mumbaikars via Twitter not to believe rumours, saying there is no shortage of salt or any other necessary commodity nor is there any price hike.

A police official said the rumours may have originated from Uttar Pradesh.

PTI