NCDRC slaps Rs 50,000 fine on coca cola, complainant donates it to consumer welfare fund

BHOPAL: National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) dismissed an appeal by beverage giant Coca Cola's manufacturing unit, against an order of Madhya Pradesh Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, awarding a compensation of Rs 50,540 to Mosoof Ahmed Hanfi, a resident of Katni district, who found dead insects and fungus inside a bottle of one of its beverages.
Engaged in a legal battle against the beverage giant since 2007, Hanfi finally won the case against the company that manufactured cold drink contaminated with fungus and insects. The legal battle continued for 9 years and finally ended when the NCDRC on May 4 asked the company along with other petitioners to pay an amount of Rs 50,540 to the Hanfi within 45 days. As per wish of the complainant, the amount was donated to the legal aid account of the national panel for consumer awareness.
In 2007, Hanfi moved District Consumer Forum, Katni, which gave its judgement in his favour and asked the company to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation. However, as he had sought over Rs 4 lakh as compensation, he moved the MP State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission where too the judgement came in his favour in 2013. Later, the company dragged him to the national commission by filing the petition against the orders of district and state consumer forums. "I am happy that after much of hard work and fighting the case for about 9 years, NCDRC supported my fight and decided in my favour. The money rewarded in compensation was immediately donated," said Hanfi while talking to TOI.
The complainant purchased the cold drink bottles on May 25, 2007. He consumed one bottle at night and felt uneasiness in stomach after 10-15 minutes, leading to vomiting and diarrhoea. He was taken to a doctor. Few tests were conducted and the report thereof revealed that it was a case of food poisoning. He showed the second bottle of the cold drink to the doctor who noticed fungus and insects in it. Due to his sickness he could not appear in a competitive exam. Thus, he suffered professional loss, mental agony and financial loss. Subsequently, he filed a complaint before the District Forum, Katni, and claimed a sum of Rs 4,35,040. In the meantime, tests for the bottles of cold drinks presented in court were also conducted. However, the company denied the charges and requested the NCDRC to dismiss the case. On the basis of medical and test reports, a bench of Justice JM Malik and expert member SM Kantikar dismissed the petition of beverage plant managing director.
This manufacturing unit of coca cola is located in Jabalpur and appealw as filed by Vikas Mittal, managing director of Coca cola plant.