Bhojpur: A man from Bihar has won a long legal fight after being cheated by a company that promised him a free holiday. Vijay Kumar Singh, who lives in Tarari in Bhojpur district, was tricked in 2011 by India Infoline Marketing Services Limited. They took Rs 25,000 from him, saying he would get four days and three nights of free travel and stay in any city in India through a card issued by Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance. He was given an application number on 30 November 2011, but never received any documents or the promised card.
Singh tried to contact the Managing Director of Bajaj Allianz and the Patna branch manager many times but got no help. In 2013, he filed a case with the Patna District Consumer Commission. During the hearing, no one from India Infoline appeared. Bajaj Allianz later sent their documents, but by then the hearing had ended, and the Commission found them innocent.
The Commission, led by Chairman Premranjan Mishra and member Rajnish Kumar, said this was a clear case of cheating for commission money. They said India Infoline was guilty and ordered it to return the Rs 25,000 with 12 percent yearly interest from the due date. The company was also ordered to pay Rs 50,000 for the mental and physical trouble Singh faced over the last 12 years.
An extra Rs 10,000 was added for case expenses. If the company does not pay, it could face strict punishment under the Consumer Protection Act, including up to three years in jail or a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh, or both. This decision will give hope to many people who are cheated in similar ways.
