Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Patna Consumer Court Fines Cinepolis and Coca-Cola Over Water Pricing
Rajat Tiwari went to a cinema in Patna in 2016.
The theatre would not let him take his own water bottle inside.
He had to buy a bottle of Kinley water there for Rs 50, while the article says it usually cost Rs 20 outside.
Tiwari complained to a consumer court.
The court decided that both the cinema company and Coca-Cola were responsible for the way the sale was handled.
It ordered them to pay him money for distress and legal costs, and to put money into a consumer welfare fund.
The court also said sellers should show product prices clearly and not charge different prices for the same goods.
A Patna consumer court ordered Cinepolis Cinema and Coca-Cola to pay a total of Rs 85,000.
The case arose after Rajat Tiwari was stopped from bringing his water bottle into a Cinepolis theatre on September 23, 2016.
Tiwari bought a Kinley bottle inside for Rs 50, compared with a stated standard retail price of Rs 20 outside.
The court rejected Cinepolis's claim that it did not set product prices and Coca-Cola's argument that its pricing followed metrology regulations.
The companies were ordered to pay Tiwari Rs 25,000 for mental distress and Rs 10,000 in legal costs, and deposit Rs 50,000 into the State Consumer Welfare Fund.
- Who
- Rajat Tiwari, Cinepolis Cinema, and the Coca-Cola Company.
- What
- A Patna consumer court ordered Cinepolis and Coca-Cola to pay Rs 85,000 over a restriction on outside water and the in-theatre price of bottled water.
- When
- The incident occurred on September 23, 2016; the article does not specify the date of the order.
- Where
- A Cinepolis cinema in Patna, Bihar.
- Why
- The court held the companies accountable for preventing Tiwari from bringing his own water and charging Rs 50 for a bottle whose stated standard retail price was Rs 20.
Consumer Court's Findings
Companies' Arguments
Responsibility for the sale and pricing
Consumer Court's Findings
The court held both companies accountable for restricting outside water and charging dual prices.
Companies' Arguments
Cinepolis said it did not set product prices, while Coca-Cola said its pricing complied with metrology regulations.
- Total amount ordered
- Rs 85,000
- Compensation for mental distress
- Rs 25,000 to Rajat Tiwari
- Legal expenses
- Rs 10,000 to Rajat Tiwari
- Consumer welfare fund deposit
- Rs 50,000 to the State Consumer Welfare Fund
- Water bottle purchased
- Kinley, for Rs 50 inside the theatre
- Stated standard retail price
- Rs 20 outside the theatre
- Payment deadline
- The fund deposit was due within 45 days; the court warned that delay would attract interest on the total amount.