Ola directed to respond to Rs 100crore compensation claim

NAMAKKAL: Acting on a compensation claim by a man, the Namakkal District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has instructed Ola to remove a sensor lock of an electric scooter within 48 hours. It also directed the company to respond to the compensation claim of Rs 100 crore.

G Sudeswaran, 27, of Namakkal has filed a lawsuit against Flipkart and Ola Electric Technology Company in the NCDRC, seeking a compensation of Rs 100 crore. He claimed that he found an advertisement for an Ola electric scooter on the Flipkart website. He made a payment of Rs 87,548 at the end of September 2024 to purchase the scooter through Flipkart, which promised home delivery. However, he was later informed that the scooter arrived in the first week of October 2024 and that he needed to pick it up from the nearest Ola showroom.

Upon visiting the showroom to collect the scooter, he was told he needed to pay the insurance company for delivery. With no alternatives, he paid for the insurance, only to be informed that he also had to pay a Rs 4,280 fulfilment fee to receive the vehicle. Despite having already paid the total amount, including the delivery fee, showroom employees refused to hand over the scooter. Ultimately, he paid the additional fee and received the vehicle at the end of November 2024.

After using the vehicle for two months, Sudheswaran received a call from the Namakkal Ola showroom on Feb 5. They informed him that to obtain the subsidy for his electric scooter, he needed to visit in person, take a photo and provide approval. When Sudheswaran arrived at the showroom for more information, he was told that the company could secure the subsidy.


He pointed out that these requirements were not disclosed at the time of purchase and took the scooter home. Ola representatives later contacted him, stating that if he completed the subsidy process within two days, they would lock the vehicle. However, the following day, while riding the scooter, it was locked remotely by Ola's sensor control. Despite reaching out to the Namakkal showroom for assistance, they refused to unlock it. Consequently, Sudheswaran had to transport the scooter home using another vehicle.

On Monday, Sudheswaran filed a complaint with the NCDRC, seeking five lakh rupees in compensation from Ola for the distress and inconvenience he experienced. He demanded that Ola pay Rs 100 crore as compensation for thousands of other affected consumers, with the funds to be deposited in the Consumer Welfare Fund. He urged the Tamil Nadu government's consumer protection department to identify these victims and provide them with compensation.

After reviewing the case, NCDRC Judge V Ramaraj, along with members R Ramola and N Lakshmanan, ordered Ola to remove the sensor lock within 48 hours so Sudheswaran's scooter could be operational again. The consumer court issued a notice to Flipkart, Ola and the Kumarapalayam and Namakkal branches of Ola, seeking a response by March 13.


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