In Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur, a case involving allegations of fraudulent practices has been officially registered against prominent industrialist Anand Mahindra, along with a dozen employees of Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, this past Saturday. The case centers on assertions of "false assurances" pertaining to the safety features of a certain vehicle.
The complainant, Mr. Rajesh Mishra, has contended that the company, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, marketed and sold him a Scorpio automobile in 2020, a vehicle that crucially lacked airbags. It is Mr. Mishra's contention that this omission led to a tragic car accident that resulted in the untimely demise of his son.
In a gesture of profound affection, Mr. Rajesh Mishra procured the black Scorpio, valued at Rs 17.39 lakh, as a gift for his son, Mr. Apoorv. Tragically, on January 14, 2022, while Mr. Apoorv was returning from Lucknow to Kanpur in the company of friends, the Scorpio collided with a roadside barrier due to poor visibility caused by fog. The impact of the collision caused the vehicle to overturn, resulting in the immediate and tragic demise of Mr. Apoorv.
Subsequent to this devastating accident, Mr. Rajesh Mishra embarked on a quest for answers and resolution. On January 29, he initiated contact with the automotive dealership from which he had originally purchased the Scorpio, drawing attention to the alleged deficiencies in the vehicle's safety features.
The crux of Mr. Mishra's complaint, as outlined in the FIR (First Information Report), revolves around the failure of the airbag system to deploy despite the seatbelt being securely fastened during the accident. He maintains that the company perpetrated an act of deception by providing false assurances regarding the safety features of the Scorpio. In essence, Mr. Rajesh Mishra alleges that Mahindra & Mahindra Limited engaged in fraudulent practices, contending that if the vehicle had undergone a thorough inspection and been equipped with the requisite airbags, his son's tragic demise might have been prevented.
However, the situation took a darker turn when Mr. Rajesh Mishra encountered resistance from the company's employees. He has leveled accusations that, acting under the instructions of the directors, these employees not only engaged in verbal abuse directed at him and his family but also issued death threats.
In the aftermath of the accident, the Scorpio in question was transported to the Mahindra Company showroom located in Ruma. Mr. Rajesh Mishra consistently asserts that the company failed to install airbags in the vehicle.
This complex case has now led to the lodging of a formal complaint under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 420 (pertaining to cheating), Section 287 (relating to negligent conduct with respect to machinery), Section 304-A (concerning causing death by negligence), among other applicable legal provisions.
