The brief facts of the complaint case are that the complainant is an investor of Sahara India Pariwar Balurghat Sector and she invested total Rs. 80,000/- only under Sahara Q shop unique product Range Limited Plan H scheme on 06.09.2012 against which opposite parties duly issued one certificate vide No. 562000551254 to the complainant. As per terms of the scheme the invested amount can be withdrawn at any time after expiry of six years. After the expiry of six years the complainant due to some personal financial crisis and in urgent need of money went to the office of the O.P.s and submitted her prayer for withdrawal of the invested amount on 04.06.2019 but the O.P.s did not refund the maturity amount to the complainant till date. Thereafter on several occasions complainant went to the office of the O.P.s for getting the payment of aforesaid certificate but in every occasion the O.P.s took a new plea and did not pay the amount to the complainant. Then on 08.07.2019 the complainant informed the matter before the Assistant Director of Consumer Affairs & Fair Business Practice Dakshin Dinajpur but the O.P.s did not appear. Finding no others alternatives, the complainant filed this instant case against the O.P.s claiming principal amount of Rs 1,88,000/- along with benefit and interest as per “Sahara Q Shop plan H” Scheme, compensation of Rs. 50,000/-.
Notice was issued upon the opposite parties and the O.P.s appeared and contested the case by filing a written version wherein the material averments made in the complaint are denied and it has been contended inter-alia that the instant case is not maintainable. It has been submitted by the opposite parties that due to some litigation pending with SEBI and the Apex court regarding the financial transaction of O.P.s group the payment has remained stop and the opposite parties craves leave of this Commission and prays for dismissal of the instant case.
In this case complainant has submitted examination in chief supported by affidavit together with following documents by firisti:
- Certificate No. 562000551254 dt. 06.09.2012 of Rs. 80,000/- in the name of Sangita Pramanik Das.
- Money Receipt in the name of Sangita Pramanik Das.
- Redemption of loyalty bonus points.
Opposite parties have also submitted examination in chief of Opw-1 by way of affidavit but no document is submitted on the side of the opposite parties.
Points for discussion
- Is the complainant a consumer to the opposite parties?
- Is there any deficiency in service on the part of the opposite parties?
- Is the complainant entitled to get any relief/reliefs as prayed for?
DECISION WITH REASONS
Point No.1 This is admitted fact that complainant invested a total sum of Rs. 80,000/- under Sahara Q shop unique plan H scheme, So there is no hesitation to hold that the complainant is a consumer within the meaning under section 2 (1) (d) of Consumer Protection Act 1986.
Point 2 & 3 These two issues are taken up together for the sake of convenience and brevity. This is admitted fact that the complainant had invested Rs 80,000/- under Sahara Q shop plan H scheme on 06/09/12 and the O.P.s duly issued one certificate vide no 562000551254 to the complainant. As per the terms and condition of the Sahara Q shop plan H Scheme the investment amount can be withdrawn after expiry of 72 months or six years.
This is the case of the complainant that after the expiry of 6 years, the complainant due to some personal financial crises went to the office of the O.ps and submits her application for withdrawal of the investment amount on 04/06/2019 but the O.P.s did not refund the same till date . Thereafter the complainant went to the office of the O.P.s on different occasion for getting payment against the certificate but the O.P.s did not pay the maturity amount to the complainant.
On perusal of the materials and evidence submitted on the side of the complainant it is clear that the complainant is entitled to get Rs.170616 /- (calculated as per the calculation given in the reverse page of the certificate) with interest as per terms and conditions given in the certificate. O.P.s claimed that as per terms and conditions of Sahara Q Shop Hospitality products the complainant did not purchase any article under the scheme nor she come to the office O.P.s to solve the problem. But on careful scrutiny of the terms and conditions stated on the reverse page of the certificate we do not find any materials to hold that for none purchasing of articles under Q shop plan H the investor will not be entitled to get his investment amount. It is clear from the fact and circumstances of the case that the O.P.s have violated the terms and conditions given in the certificate. Here, we find that the complainant is a bone-fide consumer to the O.P.s and such nonpayment of the investment amount led the complainant to file the instant case before this Commission. There is no hesitation to hold that O.P.s had neglected to discharge their duties and there is enough deficiency in service on the part of the O.P.s. Under such circumstances the complainant is entitled to get the maturity amount of Rs.170616/- together with interest from the opposite parties.
All the issues are thus disposed of accordingly.
Hence, it is
O R D E R E D
That the Consumer Complaint Case No.131/2019 is allowed on contest in part without cost against the O.P.s. The Opposite parties are directed to pay a sum of Rs. 170616/- as maturity value of the invested amount together with interest @ 8% p.a. from the date of maturity till realization by issuing an account payee cheque in favour of the complaint within 45 days from the date of passing this order in default complainant has liberty to execute the order as per law.
Let a plain copy of this order be furnished to the parties forthwith free of cost.
