A luxury ride turns into a legal rollercoaster as the Supreme Court directs BMW India to cough up ₹50 lakhs. The case revolves around a flawed BMW 7 series bought by GVR Infra Projects in September 2009. Despite multiple repairs at authorized workshops, the defect persisted, leading to a legal battle.
The complainant’s frustration peaked, prompting the registration of an FIR against BMW under Sections 418 and 420 of the IPC for cheating. The High Court initially quashed the criminal proceedings but ordered BMW to replace the faulty vehicle. The offer was refused by GVR Infra Projects, who demanded a refund instead.
Fast forward to the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, which criticized the High Court’s directive for a new car replacement despite dismissing the cheating charges. The bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, concluded that prolonging the case wouldn’t serve justice. Invoking Article 142 of the Constitution, the Court opted for a compensatory route, mandating BMW to pay ₹50 lakh to settle the dispute.
This verdict marks a significant resolution in a decade-and-a-half-long saga, underscoring the Court’s stance on consumer rights and corporate accountability.
