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Foreign particle in soft drink; Coca Cola asked to pay Rs 2500
New Delhi, May 10: In a major embarrassment to beverages giant Coca Cola, the apex consumer body has ordered the multinational`s Indian arm to pay Rs 2500 as compensation to an aggrieved person for selling him a bottle of soft drink containing `foreign particles`.
New Delhi, May 10: In a major embarrassment to beverages giant Coca Cola, the apex consumer body has ordered the multinational's Indian arm to pay Rs 2500 as compensation to an aggrieved person for selling him a bottle of soft drink containing "foreign particles".
Dismissing a revision petition filed by Hindustan Coca
Cola Beverages Private Limited for not filing it within the
stipulated time, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal
Commission upheld a district forum order directing the company
to pay the compensation amount and litigation cost of Rs 500.
Complainant Naresh Thakkar alleged that the bottle of Coke, sold to him by the company's agent, contained something more than the just the drink and that the "foreign particle" upset his stomach.
The company rebutted that Thakkar had not come with clean hands as he never had a proper receipt of the transaction.
Though it could not be determined whether contents of the bottle were injurious to health as neither party went ahead with the test, the district forum noted that foreign particles were indeed present in the bottle, adding there was deficiency in service to that extent.
Coca Cola preferred an appeal before the state commission which dismissed it saying there was a 133-day delay. It did not accept the ground sought for condonation of delay that the clerk had lost a certified copy.
The company then approached the national commission, which also turned down the petition saying it should have been very vigilant and that there was no ground to interfere with the order of the state commission. Bureau Report
Complainant Naresh Thakkar alleged that the bottle of Coke, sold to him by the company's agent, contained something more than the just the drink and that the "foreign particle" upset his stomach.
The company rebutted that Thakkar had not come with clean hands as he never had a proper receipt of the transaction.
Though it could not be determined whether contents of the bottle were injurious to health as neither party went ahead with the test, the district forum noted that foreign particles were indeed present in the bottle, adding there was deficiency in service to that extent.
Coca Cola preferred an appeal before the state commission which dismissed it saying there was a 133-day delay. It did not accept the ground sought for condonation of delay that the clerk had lost a certified copy.
The company then approached the national commission, which also turned down the petition saying it should have been very vigilant and that there was no ground to interfere with the order of the state commission. Bureau Report