Chennai: The next time you buy an alcohol bottle containing any foreign body in it, you could be entitled to at least half a lakh rupees. In a recent verdict delivered by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai (North), a complainant was awarded a compensation of Rs 55,000 for spotting a decomposed insect inside an alcohol bottle. G. Ramesh from Tiruvottiyur who purchased a brandy bottle, found the decomposed cockroach in the intoxicant, and took up the matter with police and the consumer forum. In his petition, Ramesh submitted that he had purchased a J.D.F. brandy bottle which was brewed by M/s. United Spirits Limited from a Tasmac outlet at Tondiarpet for a price of Rs 400 on April 8, 2012. Before drinking it, he noticed the decomposed insect in the drink.
The next day, he lodged a complaint with the salesman in the outlet. Since there was no response, he filed a complaint with Tondiarpet police station and sent a legal notice to the distillery seeking compensation of Rs 5 lakh from the distiller and manager, Tasmac outlet for unfair trade practice and deficiency in service. In its reply, United Spirits Limited submitted that alcohol was brewed under rigorous scrutiny and subjected to stringent quality and other tests, and the presence of any decomposed insects or any foreign material in the bottle was not possible. Tasmac staff remained exparte even after a notice by the Forum.
The bench comprising its president V. Gopal, members A. Dayalan and T. Kalaiyarasi said, “It is not known how a decomposed insect got into the bottle when the seal was intact. If the petitioner or any others had drunk the alcohol, it would have caused a health hazard.” Hence, the distiller was directed to pay Rs 55,000 to the petitioner for causing mental agony and deficiency in service.
