Acting against traders indulging in black marketing of essential goods, the Raipur district administration on Monday sealed five shops in the Chhattisgarh capital.
All the stock in the shops have been seized by the Food Department to ensure availability of essential commodities to the public, Food Officer Anurag Bhadauria said.
Fifty gunny bags of potatoes were seized from Shri Pradeep & Company, 420 gunny bags weighing 50 kg potato each, 13 gunny bags of onion and six gunny bags of garlic were seized from Shri Traders while 471 gunny bags of potatoes were seized from Sheetal Agency, the official added.
All three wholesale dealers were making a profit of Rs 300 to Rs 500 in selling each gunny bag of potatoes (50 kg) at Rs 1,800-2,000, the official said.
Due to overpricing, the distribution of potatoes was brought under the control of the government at a rate of Rs 30 per kg for the convenience of the public.