Home dept refuses to pay heed to food and civil supplies dept’s request to instruct multiplexes to allow food from outside, digs in its heels over ‘security risk’ claim
Chaitanya Marpakwar and Makarand Gadgil (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 14, 2018)

The state government’s mixed signals are letting multiplexes get away with fleecing moviegoers under the guise of steeply priced food.

Last week, Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Ravindra Chavan had clarified with Mirror that multiplexes cannot prevent anyone from bringing in food from outside. His department even asked the home department to issue fresh instructions to multiplexes in this regard and clear up the confusion, but the home department turned down the request, claiming that food could be a security threat.

A senior official from the food and civil supplies department said the authorities wrote to the home department last month. “We asked it to issue fresh instructions to all theatre and multiplex owners to allow outside food in theatres in tune with the existing rules and laws. But it refused to do so, saying outside food is viewed as a security threat and that the issue is pending before the Bombay High Court.”

Affidavit official stand: MoS
On Monday, Minister of State for Home Ranjit Patil (right) said the home department is sticking to its stand. “The state government stands by its affidavit in the Bombay High Court and the proposal to change the stand is not under consideration,” Patil said. “The affidavit is the state government’s official stand. I am not aware on what basis Ravindra Chavan announced that there is no ban on outside food in multiplexes.”

This isn’t the first instance of the government departments failing to see eye to eye on the issue, despite both being under the charge of the BJP. Last month, Chavan had clarified in the legislature that there was no prohibition on taking food into multiplexes. “They (multiplexes) don’t have the right to stop the public from doing so. Multiplex owners prohibit outside food citing security. But we have asked them to allow outside food. From August 1, there won’t be multiple prices for the same item,” he had said.


But just days later, the government vacillated on August 8 by telling the Bombay High Court — which is hearing a public interest litigation on the matter — that such a move could pose a security risk. The HC demanded an explanation from the government on this claim.

The state government had based this argument on an “opinion” of former Director General of Police Satish Mathur. But Mathur told Mirror that he had drawn upon a ban order of the former Delhi police chief after a bomb carried into a cinema hall in 2005 in a tiffin box exploded and killed one person.

Multiplexes to blame: Chavan
To add to the confusion, Chavan reiterated his claim the day after the government filed its affidavit in court dubbing food as a security threat. In an interview with this paper, he laid the blame at multiplex owners’ doors, saying they were misleading moviegoers. “There is no ambiguity. According to Section 121 of the Maharashtra Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1966, there is no ban on taking food items to multiplexes. The owners don’t have any right to stop the public from doing so,” he had said. Chavan had also said that there was no need for any new direction to theatre owners. “There is no need for a new government resolution or a directive. Such a move is needed only when the law has been modified or amended. Multiplex and theatre owners are misleading people.”

According to officials, Chavan’s department then wrote to the home department, asking it direct theatre owners to follow existing rules.

Oppn sees a chance
The opposition has seized the government’s ambivalence to train its guns at it. Dhananjay Munde, NCP legislator and leader of the opposition in the legislative council, has slammed the government for its U-turn. He has written a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, demanding that the government withdraw its affidavit and file another stating food would be allowed into theatres. “Your government told us that action would be taken against multiplexes for overpricing. Now, the home department has filed an affidavit saying outside food is a security threat,” Munde wrote.

Over the last week, Mirror has conducted two test drives and carried a series of reports to expose how multiplexes are swindling moviegoers by charging exorbitant prices.

Security experts slam the state’s stance, HC asks tough questions, and Mumbai demands answers

A day after the state government claimed that allowing outside food in multiplexes could create “security issues” and “chaos”, Mumbai has a few very basic questions regarding the government’s 180-degree turn on the matter
Chaitanya Marpakwar and Sunil Baghel (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 9, 2018)

1 People are frisked at the entrance of the multiplexes and their bags are scanned. If the cinema halls are inside a mall, the frisking and scanning takes place again. How, then, is food a security risk?

2 People can carry food on planes and trains. How does food become a threat only inside multiplexes?

3 Less than a month ago, during the monsoon session of the legislature, food and civil supplies minister Ravindra Chavan had said that starting August 1, people will be allowed to carry food inside multiplexes. Then, did the government wake up to the ‘food as threat’ angle suddenly?

On Wednesday, this newspaper carried a test drive to reveal how multiplexes were hiding behind the ‘lack of clarity’ excuse to not allow moviegoers to carry food, forcing them to pay twice or thrice the amount for food items that cost far less outside.

The state government has based its arguments against allowing outside food in multiplexes on the ‘opinion’ of the then Director General of Police Satish Mathur, who told Mumbai Mirror that his opinion was based on the Delhi Police chief’s order banning outside food and tiffin boxes in cinema halls after one such container had exploded in a movie hall in the national capital.

“We don’t have in place the kind of security setup wherein every item can be checked in movie theatres, and such checks would lead to huge queues. Unlike at the airport, where people report early, people show up at movie theatres even after a movie has started,” Mathur said.

Mirror has learnt that the office of the incumbent DGP, Dattatray Padsalgikar, has suggested modifications to the previous stance. Confirming the development, a Maharashtra Police source said, “The police can comment only on the security aspect of the issue. If at all outside food is brought to multiplexes, there are procedures for screening of such food and liquids. Keeping that in mind, some suggestions have been made on carrying out those procedures to ensure that if a decision is taken to allow own food and liquids, these measures will be in place. This will have to be done by the security staff of the movie theatres.”

Security experts slam the state, HC asks questions

Retired Indian Police Service officer K P Raghuvanshi, who served as the police commissioner of Thane and the state Anti-Terrorism Squad chief, said he “did not agree” with the government on the matter. “We have the technology, security apparatus, and manpower to check what people are carrying to a place designated to need security. The prices of food items in multiplexes are exorbitant, and the government should curb the rates or allow people to bring food from outside,” he said.

Consumer activist Shirish Deshpande termed the government stance as a “foolish argument”. “Whoever has given this opinion must explain how food becomes a security issue as multiplexes frisk customers and scan their bags. The state’s argument is not making sense,” Deshpande said.

In the high court yesterday, during the hearing of a public interest litigation filed by filmmaker Jainendra Baxi against the ban on carrying outside food and beverages inside the multiplexes, a division bench of Justices Ranjit More and Anuja Prabhudesai demanded an explanation from the state government.

“What security concern can be caused by food inside theatres? People are not prohibited from carrying food to any other public place besides cinema halls. If people can be permitted to carry home food inside the aircraft then why not to theatres?” the bench sought to know.

The court also dismissed the argument of senior advocate Iqbal Chagla, representing the Multiplexes Owners’ Association, that one could not cite his/her fundamental right to seek that he/she be allowed to carry food inside theatres.

Chagla had said that the price of food sold inside multiplexes was a commercial decision but the prohibition on outside food was because of security reasons. “Tomorrow, citizens will cite their fundamental right and want to carry their own drinks to the hotels and restaurants,” Chagla said.

The high court, however, noted that restaurants cannot be compared with multiplexes. “We are only on the issue of security since that is the state’s main argument. Explain to us what are the security problems that a person can cause by carrying food items from home into a multiplex. The food sold inside multiplexes is priced exorbitantly. Also, by prohibiting people from carrying food from home, you are compelling entire families to consume junk food,” the court said.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, which is at the forefront of the fight against multiplexes overcharging moviegoers, claimed the state government had arrived at a “settlement” with the multiplex owners. “Food and civil supplies minister Ravindra Chavan must give an explanation. We will continue our agitation unless there is a specific order from the court,” senior MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande said.

The lone voice in support of the government’s stance was of retired IPS officer M N Singh, who has served as Mumbai’s police commissioner. “What happens if someone is consuming meat while sitting next to a vegetarian inside a movie hall? Such a situation can lead to argument, chaos, and therefore this too can be a security issue. It will be difficult for the theatre managements to handle such situations,” Singh said.

Going a step further in defence of the government, he added that people who can afford expensive movie tickets can also afford the food items at multiplexes. “Those who cannot, need not go,” Singh said. — Inputs: Sagnik Chowdhury

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The movement is spreading

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the AAP government’s stand on a public interest litigation seeking framing of guidelines allowing movie-goers to carry food and beverages inside theatres.

The plea was moved by a lawyer, Ekta Singh, who alleged that she was not permitted to carry food items and water bottle inside a movie theatre in Delhi’s Jangpura locality. She has alleged that the food and drink that was available inside the theatre were over-priced.

Of the five big multiplexes, only two allowed Mirror reporters to bring food from outside.
By Team Mumbai Mirror (August 8, 2018)

MIRROR TEST DRIVE: Multiplexes across the city hide behind the ‘lack of clarity’ excuse to defy the govt order that allows moviegoers to carry food from outside.

Almost a month after the state government clarified that beginning August 1, moviegoers were free to carry food to multiplexes and there should be no difference in the MRP of food items sold outside and inside multiplexes, there is still no clarity, resulting in each multiplex in the city framing its own rules on the matter.

This was revealed during a test drive conducted by this newspaper over the past two days, during which three of the city’s biggest multiplexes did not allow Mirror reporters to carry food to the cinema halls.

This, after Ravindra Chavan, minister of state for food and civil supplies, told the legislative assembly during the recently concluded monsoon session that the multiplex owners have been instructed to allow outside food on their premises. The minister further said the multiplexes have also been instructed to not charge exorbitant amount of money for food items.

Chavan’s statement came in the wake of the Bombay High Court pulling up the state government and the multiplexes based on a public interest litigation that people were forced to pay for food items as per the rates fixed by the multiplexes. Several multiplexes in Mumbai charge around Rs 300 for a bucket of popcorns, nearly Rs 100 for a cup of tea, and around Rs 200 for two pieces of sandwich when the same items are available for less than half the rate outside.

The Mirror test drive that covered Sterling Cineplex at Fort, Metro Inox Cinemas at Marine Lines, Regal Cinema at Colaba, PVR Odeon at Ghatkopar, and Cinemax at Borivali revealed the patrons continued to be at the mercy of the multiplex owners.

At Sterling, our reporters were told to tuck in the chips and biscuits inside lunchboxes as the multiplex only allowed “ghar ka khaana” inside. At Metro, we were told that the food we had bought cannot be carried inside the theatre; we were given a choice of consuming it within the confines of the lobby. At PVR Odeon, the manager offered to keep our food in the refrigerator and “warm it for free” once the show got over.

At Cinemax in Borivali, there was a board at the entrance saying outside food will not be allowed but there was no problem. The guards checking our bags stuffed with a cheeseburger and fries didn’t even bat an eyelid.

They told us outside food has been allowed at the multiplex for the past three days; it helped that the employees’ union at this multiplex is affiliated to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which is at the forefront of the fight against multiplexes overcharging the patrons.

Similarly, there was no problem at Regal, where our reporter was told that the security has been instructed to allow patrons to bring food from outside.

Lekhraj Kundhaliya, the food and beverages manager at Sterling Cineplex, told this newspaper that they started allowing “homemade food” since July 15. “Even when people have brought outside food packed in lunchboxes, we have allowed (them inside). There’s a lot of confusion regarding the matter so every multiplex’s management is free to interpret the government instructions as per its convenience,” Kundhaliya said.

MNS THREATENS ACTION
The MNS said it will soon conduct its own test drive and “teach a lesson” to those multiplexes that are refusing to fall in line. “The food and civil supplies minister has said there is no need for a special Government Resolution in this matter. Many multiplexes are still not allowing moviegoers to bring food from outside and continue to charge exorbitant prices for food items sold inside. We will conduct a check and take action MNS-style,” senior MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande said.

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PVR Odeon, Ghatkopar
‘We’ll keep the food in our fridge’
MONDAY 10.35 PM SHOW

As we were making our way inside, we were warned that the boxes containing sandwiches will not be allowed. Sure enough, the guards at the first floor told us we’ll have to leave the food outside. When we protested and told the guards about the government instruction, they called up the multiplex manager, who identified himself as Tarun Devnani. “There’s still no clarity,” Devnani claimed, “we have slashed the prices of food items at our multiplex but we are not allowing outside food till there is complete clarity on the matter.” He then offered to keep the sandwiches in the refrigerator, and as a bonus, warm those once the show got over.

Food prices inside the multiplex: Popcorn buckets: Rs 150, Rs 170, Rs 250, nachos: Rs 220, cold coffee: Rs 120, tea and coffee (hot): Rs 100 per cup, cold beverages (large cup): Rs 150. —Yogesh Naik


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Regal Cinema, Colaba
‘A Regal experience’
TUESDAY 7 PM SHOW

While rummaging through our bag as part of the security check, the guards did not seem to even notice the bags of chips and biscuits. When we pointed out to the outside food we were carrying, a theatre official said it was no problem at all.

“Following the government instructions, we have told all our guards to not stop anyone carrying outside food. We also took down the signs where it said outside eatables not allowed,” the theatre official said.

Regal Cinema is also one of the most reasonable when it comes to in-house pricing of food times: A bucket of popcorns: Rs 70, sandwich: Rs 70, samosa: Rs 60, a packet of chips for Rs 50, coffee: Rs 40. —Mitaksh Jain


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Sterling Cineplex, Fort
‘Pack your chips in a lunchbox’
TUESDAY 4.10 PM SHOW

The guard at the entrance wouldn’t let us in because we were carrying packets of chips and biscuits. “Not allowed,” he said. When he didn’t budge, we demanded to speak to his supervisor, after which three men trooped out. When we told them about the government clarification issued last month that it was “illegal” for multiplexes to now allow outside food, one of them said there was “no clarity on the matter”. He hastily added that only “ghar ka khaana” was allowed inside the movie halls.

We asked him whether we will be stopped if we simply put our chips and biscuits in a tiffin box and he said we can do that. “We don’t check tiffin boxes and patrons can bring in whatever they want, provided it is packed in lunchboxes. We don’t allow packaged food,” he said.

Food prices inside the multiplex: Sterling Cineplex has leased out its ground floor to various food chains and outlets. —Linah Baliga and Payal Gwalani


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Cinemax, Borivali 
‘Outside food is welcome here’
MONDAY 10.50 PM SHOW

We were allowed to bring in food and a water bottle from outside, even though there’s a board at the entrance saying it’s banned. Our bags were checked at the entrance, and the security officials did not even mention anything about outside food not allowed in the multiplex. When we asked the multiplex officials about the policy regarding outside food, one of them said it is being allowed for the past three days.

The multiplex has an employees’ union which is affiliated to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which is at the forefront of the fight against multiplexes charging exorbitantly for food and beverages.

Food prices inside the multiplex: Popcorn buckets: Rs 220, Rs 240, Rs 269, water bottles: Rs 40 and Rs 60, tea (small cup): Rs 70, other food items in the range of Rs 140 to Rs 230. —Rahi Gaikwad


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Metro Inox Cinemas, Marine Lines
‘Eat in the lobby, not inside the halls’
TUESDAY 11.10 PM SHOW

Wwere not allowed to bring in food from outside. We told the multiplex officials that the state government has clearly said patrons must be allowed to bring in food to multiplexes, an official politely told us to consume the food in the lobby.

“We have been told a court hearing on the matter is scheduled on August 8. Until we get complete clarity on the matter, we request our patrons to not bring food from outside,” the Metro Inox official said.

Food prices inside the multiplex: Popcorn bucket: Rs 220, sandwich: Rs 120 onwards, a samosa packet: Rs 80, coffee: Rs 90 for a small cup. —Lata Mishra