12 superbike buyers taken for Rs 1.2cr ride

NAVI MUMBAI: Twelve motorcyle lovers who wanted to buy Kawasaki superbikes worth around Rs 8 lakh each were taken for a ride by a Nerul dealer as he absconded after collecting Rs 1.18 crore from them. Now, the buyers have lodged a complaint with the Economic Offences Wing of the Crime Branch against the proprietor of SNK Palm Beach, a dealer of India Kawasaki Motors.
The buyers have alleged that in April 2016, they paid the proprietor, Sayten Karandikar, outright for the superbikes, but he failed to deliver the bikes on the scheduled date.Karandikar allegedly told them that the delivery was delayed as the superbikes were being imported.
In August, the 12 buyers sent legal notice to the showroom proprietor as well as India Kawasaki Motors (IKM). In September, India Kawasaki Motors replied to the notice saying they had already cancelled the dealership of the Nerul showroom as they had received several complaints against the dealer.
IKM terminated the dealership saying SNK Palm Beach failed to serve the customers and deliver them the motorcylces booked by them.
Recently, Karandikar shut down his showroom and absconded. Consequently, the 12 buyers approached the EOW and lodged a complaint of cheating, criminal breach of trust against the showroom proprietor for unfair trade practice.
One of the complainants, Ibrahim Shaikh Mansoori said, “I had booked a Kawasaki Z800 in April 2016. I paid Rs 8. 34 lakh — Rs 2.28 lakh from my pocket and for the remaining Rs 6.06 lakh, I took vehicle loan from HDFC Bank. Karandikar assured me that the superbike would be delivered on June 5, 2016. The motorcycle company has claimed to have terminated the said dealership SNK Palm Beach in September 2016 (Much after the 12 customers made the payments). Hence, the manufacturer is liable to refund the entire amount paid to their dealer for the superbikes along with a compensation of Rs 10 lakh towards harassment and delay in delivering the superbikes, which has been stated in the legal notice sent to them through our advocate.”
DCP (crime) Dilip Sawant said, “I have received a complaint from the 12 buyers against the Nerul dealer’s proprietor and the matter is been investigated by the economic offences wing.”