Emission scandal: FIR on Audi, Skoda
Two Indian subsidiaries of German carmaker Volkswagon group have been booked for allegedly selling seven Audi cars fitted with "cheat devices" able to deceive excessive pollution emission tests to a Noida businessman, police said on Friday.
The FIR lodged in Sector 20 police station against Noida-based carmakers Audi India and Skoda AutoVolkswagen India on charges of forgery and cheating also names their top officials and parent company in Germany, said police.
Businessman Aniljit Singh said in his complaint that he was sold "substandard" vehicles after misrepresentation of facts on emission. He said he bought the cars in 2016, costing him crores of rupees.
He alleged the carmakers "induced" him into buying their vehicles and he bought them with an "impression" that they were compliant with the latest emission norms of the country.
"However, these were substandard vehicles fitted with cheat devices," Singh said in his complaint, adding he was duped by the company on disclosure of pollution emission by its vehicles at the time of sale.
When contacted, a spokesperson for SAVW Group, however, denied the allegations and claimed: "Vehi
cles from our group are compliant with the emission norms prescribed in India." The FIR names as accused Noida-based firms Audi India, Skoda Auto - Volkswagen India and Volkswagen India besides Audi AG and Volkswagen AG of Germany.
The top officials of the multinational firm, who have been named in the FIR, are Audi India's country head Balbir Singh Dhillon, its brand director Rahil Ansari, its sales chief Nitin Kohli and Volkswagen India's managing director Gurpratap Boparai, a copy of the FIR accessed by PTI revealed.
The other officials are Audi AG chairman Bram Schot, its overseas distribution head Michael Friscii and Volkswagen AG CEO Herbert Diess.
Businessman Singh also cited in the FIR what is now popularly known as the "Volkswagen Emission Scandal" or the "diesel dupe" involving the violation of environmental norms by automobile giant by the installation of "cheat device" on its cars, able to deceive pollution emission tests.