South Bend liquor store owner broke wage laws and retaliated against workers, court rules

Jordan Smith, South Bend Tribune
·2 min read
A Mega Liquor & Smoke store in South Bend. Bhola Singh, who owns 61 different stores in Indiana and Michigan under the Mega & Liquor name, was found to have retaliated against employees to whom he owed more than $350,000 in back wages and damages.
A Mega Liquor & Smoke store in South Bend. Bhola Singh, who owns 61 different stores in Indiana and Michigan under the Mega & Liquor name, was found to have retaliated against employees to whom he owed more than $350,000 in back wages and damages.

SOUTH BEND — A Granger man who owns dozens of liquor stores in Indiana and Michigan must pay more than $350,000 to 156 employees after he allegedly failed to pay them required wages and then retaliated against them for speaking to investigators, a federal judge ruled this week.

The Wednesday ruling comes after a two-year federal investigation ending in November 2022 found that Bhola Singh, the owner of Mega Liquor & Smoke stores in the two states, violated provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act establishing minimum wage and overtime pay. Investigators say Singh owns 61 liquor stores under the Mega name.

After agreeing in September to pay wages and damages for his violations within a month, Singh "threatened and intimidated current and former employees to convince them to sign receipts of payment without ever paying the employees," according to a February lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor. Singh's alleged tactics included requiring workers to sign a receipt without allowing them to read it and threatening to find unrelated reasons to fire them if they talked to federal investigators.

Ruling Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, located in downtown South Bend, Judge Damon Leichty ordered Singh to pay about $354,000 in back wages and damages to current and former employees. Singh must tell workers he's subject to a federal lawsuit for retaliating against employees and failing to pay owed wages.

The court also required the liquor store owner to post a statement within three days and play a recorded video message within seven days that informs workers of their right to cooperate with federal wage investigators.

“The court is holding Bhola Singh accountable for his illegal tactics to stop employees from receiving the back wages and damages they’re owed,” said Regional Solicitor of Labor Christine Heri, who's based in Chicago, in a statement released by the Department of Labor. “Employers should know that we will use every available legal resource to protect workers and end illegal and retaliatory practices by employers.”

Singh, who operates businesses under dozens of different names, including Vishav Inc., agreed to immediately stop retaliating against employees, the Department of Labor said. Singh did not respond to a voicemail The Tribune left for a number associated with him.

Most of his companies are tied to the address 7106 Grape Road in Granger, which is the site of a Mega Liquor & Smoke store. He also owns the neighborhood bar and liquor store Frank's Place, at 327 W. Marion St. in South Bend, which closed down for more than two years before reopening in late 2023 with new management.

Bhola Singh, the owner of 61 liquor stores in Michigan and Indiana, must pay 156 current and former employees more than $350,000 after denying them owed wages and retaliating against them.
Bhola Singh, the owner of 61 liquor stores in Michigan and Indiana, must pay 156 current and former employees more than $350,000 after denying them owed wages and retaliating against them.

Email Tribune staff writer Jordan Smith at JTsmith@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Indiana and Michigan Mega Liquor store owner violates federal law