Was forced to pay parking fee at mall, says ex-corporator

The police have registered a case of cheating after a former BMC corporator alleged that she was forced to cough up parking fees at a Malad mall. Complainant Sheetal Mhatre said customers should not be charged parking fees at such business points as they are part of the services provided.

In her complaint to the Bangur Nagar police, Mhatre said had a run-in with the parking staff at the mall when she went there for shopping on Friday. Mhatre, who is also the president of Mumbai Mahila Congress, said she was asked to pay Rs 40 while leaving the place.

The attendant was in no mood to budge despite being told that customers were not supposed to be charged for bringing their vehicles to the mall. An argument ensued, prompting Mhatre to call the police.

"I paid the 'parking facility' charge after the police said they would take down my complaint. I was harassed by the parking attendants for more than one hour," Mhatre told DNA.

In its first information report registered against unnamed mall staffers, the police wrote: "The wanted accused in the case duped her by taking Rs 40 from her illegally and without any documents."

Santosh Bhandare, senior inspector of Bangur Nagar police station, said they were verifying the claims of the complainant. "We are also checking if it is legal to collect parking charges from customers."