Sahara India told to pay 2 city residents Rs10,000 each

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 5

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed Sahara India Parivar, Sahara Q Shop Unique Products Range Ltd, Lucknow, and Sahara Q Shop Unique Products Range Ltd, Mumbai, to jointly pay Rs 10,000 each as compensation to two Dhanas residents.

The forum has also directed all three to pay Rs 7,000 each as cost of litigation, besides refunding Rs 22,750 to both complainants.

Rakesh Verma (45) and Ramesh Kumar (49), both residents of Dhanas in Chandigarh, in their complaint said in 2007, they came to know that the opposite parties had floated a fixed deposit scheme. They contacted the Chandigarh office of the opposite parties and were made to know that on making payment of Rs 1,000 per month under the said scheme, they would get returns equal to the fixed deposit rate (FDR) interest.

Initially, till 2011, the opposite parties honoured their commitment. In 2012, the opposite parties told the complainants that on account of financial constraints, the company would not be able to pay them Rs 22,750 which was pending under the FDR scheme. They were asked to get the same fixed with the company for a period of six years whereupon they would get the maturity amount Rs 53,463 on expiry of period of six years or they could avail of items such as gold ornaments, food, beverages, rooms on rent, etc, out of the matured amount through the shopping outlets of the opposite parties.

They said they opted for the first option. However, on September 8, 2018, the complainants visited the office of the opposite parties in Chandigarh with a request to make payment of Rs 53,463, but to no avail. Despite repeated visits, their requests were not entertained on the ground that it related to refund of maturity amount and hence, no facility of shopping could be given on it.

The opposite parties contested the complaints and filed replies, inter alia, admitting the basic facts of the cases i.e. payment of Rs 22,750 by the complainants. It was also fairly admitted in their reply that the complainants had paid Rs 22,750 in September 2012 for a period of six years. The opposite parties never refused to refund the amount, but it was the complainants who sought interest. In the alternative, the complainants are free to purchase a complete range of goods of the company such as food products, gold jewellery, etc, out of the amount paid and loyalty bonus thereon.

The forum observed, “The act of the opposite parties amounts to deficiency in service.”

The forum directed the opposite parties to comply with the order within 30 days from the date of receipt of order, failing they shall make the payment of the amounts along with interest @ 12 per cent per annum from the date of this order.