Consumer forum rules in favour of senior couple
The Hyderabad district consumer forum – 3 has directed Omnitech Info Solutions Ltd to refund an amount of `76,006 with 12 per cent interest and `10,000 towards compensation and also `3,000 towards costs to an elderly couple — Chandramouli Gubba, aged 80 years, and Kalawathi Gubba, 73.
The complainants approached Bajaj Capital Ltd, Himayathnagar, for investing some money as a fixed deposit, as the firm was providing services to people wanting to invest in various companies. Bajaj Capital had tie-up with the other companies.
When the firm advised the couple to invest in Omnitech Info Solutions, a firm located in Mumbai, the two happily agreed to invest an amount of `60,000 by way of cheques on November 28, 2012. The couple was supposed to get the maturity of `76, 006 after two years—i.e., on November 28, 2014.
When they requested Omnitech to refund their maturity amount, the firm didn’t do it and kept postponing the matter. However, the couple was assured by the firm that they would refund the amount by March 2015, but they didn’t get the amount despite waiting for it for a longer time.
Later, the complainants approached the forum and presented their ordeal in which they mentioned that both are senior citizens and have several health problems.
In the request, they also mentioned that the amount was a fixed deposited because they did not have any other source of income, and were hopeful that the income herein would serve their medical purpose.
The Bajaj Capital, in its clarification, noted that the complainant acted with a single objective, namely to “recover the maturity amount of Fixed Deposit(s)” along with accrued interest — voluntarily and willingly invested/deposited money in an “FD (Fixed Deposit) Scheme” of the opposite party No.2’s company, “M/s Omnit ech Infosolutions Ltd.”
The forum dismissed the case against Bajaj Capital with no costs, but ordered that the Omnitech Info Solutions is liable to refund the amount of `76,006 to the complainant along with 12 per cent of interest. The forum also directed Omnitech to pay a compensation of `10,000, be sides `3,000 towards cos ts, to the elderly couple.