Chennai: The District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum, Chennai (South) directed state run-Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Ltd (Tasmac) and Midas Golden Distilleries (Pvt) Ltd to pay a compensation of Rs 15,000 to a person for selling a brandy bottle with insects.
In the petition, S. Chella Pandian, M.G.R. Nagar, submitted that on October 8, 2007 he and his friend went to Tasmac shop and purchased a 180 ml ‘Old Admiral VSOP Brandy’ bottle.
Soon after drinking the alcohol, he felt an unusual burning sensation in the stomach and felt giddiness. Soon he started vomiting profusely.
Again, he purchased another 180 ml ‘Old Admiral VSOP Brandy’ bottle for '63 and it was manufactured in September 2007.
He was shocked to see The brandy bottle was manufactured and supplied by Midas Golden Distilleries to Tasmac.
The act of Tasmac and Midas amounts to deficiency in service which caused him mental agony and hardship.
He sought a compensation of '4.50 lakh from Tasmac and Midas Golden Distilleries.
In his reply, GM of Tasmac said that the liquor stock was transferred to Tasmac from various manufactures, after obtaining clearance from the government forensic lab certifying that the stock was fit for sale.
The complainant must be alert about the presence of foreign material in the bottle to the shop supervisor, depot manager and district manager of Tasmac. Since the bottle was not shown to these officials along with the bills this petition must be rejected.
He had not suffered any health related issues due to consumption. The Corporation had not committed any deficiency in service and the complaint liable to be dismissed, he said. Midas Golden Distilleries also denied the allegation.
The bench comprising President M. Mony, members K. Amala and Dr T. Paul Rajasekaran, said the brandy bottle was sent for Chemical Analysis, Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College. The report confirmed that the sample contained foreign bodies including house fly. The bench directed that Tasmac and Midas are jointly and severally liable to pay a compensation of '15,000 to the petitioner for causing him mental agony and refund of '63 towards the cost of the brandy bottle.
