Aastha Pareek
In the case of K Sunil Chowdary v. Ola Electric, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Ranga Reddy, Telangana, has ordered Ola Electric to refund ₹1,63,986 to K Sunil Chowdary, a Hyderabad resident, following ongoing issues with his Ola S1 Pro electric scooter. The Commission, comprising President Chitneni Latha Kumari, PVTR Jawahar Babu, and J Shyamala, found that Ola Electric had failed to resolve the recurring issues with the scooter, despite the problems falling within the warranty period.
Chowdary had purchased the scooter in June 2022, paying the full amount, which included services like a five-year extended warranty, a one-year Ola Care Plan, and installation of a hypercharger. However, from the onset, the scooter experienced battery and charging issues, with the charger replaced only after 10 days. Despite this, the vehicle continued to face performance issues, resulting in prolonged downtime.
The Commission’s decision was based on Chowdary’s documentary evidence, including legal notices and invoices, which highlighted the company’s failure to rectify the issues. Ola Electric did not appear before the forum or file a response despite being served a notice in January 2024. The Commission took this failure into account and ruled the case ex parte, deeming the company’s actions as unfair trade practices and a deficiency in service.
In addition to the full refund, the Commission awarded Chowdary ₹10,000 in compensation for the distress caused by Ola’s negligence and another ₹10,000 for his litigation costs. The refund is to be accompanied by 9% interest per annum from August 2023 until the amount is realized.