District consumer forum raps Sahara India Pariwar for unfair trade practices

DEHRADUN: The Dehradun district consumer disputes redressal forum has held Sahara India Pariwar guilty of “unfair trade practices” and has ordered the company to refund Rs 1,11,100 lakh to a resident of Dalanwala, along with a fine of Rs 20,000 for causing mental harassment and Rs 10,000 towards cost of litigation.
Litigant Indu Sharma had booked a two-room penthouse worth Rs 22,22,000 in proposed Sahara real estate project under Sahara City Homes scheme on January 14, 2005.She paid advance money of Rs 1,11,100 lakh and the possession of the flat was to be given to her in 2014, eight years after the booking.
However, neither the company constructed the proposed Sahara City Homes in Dehradun nor informed its customers regarding the cancellation of its project. The complainant even sent legal notices to the company in the months of September and October 2014, but to no avail.
After getting no response from the company, Indu Sharma filed the complaint in the consumer court on December 7, 2015, seeking refund of the amount along with compensation.
The district consumer forum headed by its chairman Balbir Prasad and member Alka Negi accepted that the company indulged in unfair trade practices causing mental agony to the consumer and she must be compensated for it.
Significantly, the forum ordered the Sahara India Pariwar to refund the advance amount and pay the penalty within 30 days of the order.