Sundargarh panel orders Ola Electric to pay Rs 1.76L for faulty scooter
Sundargarh consumer commission directed Ola Electric to refund Rs 1.16 lakh and pay Rs 60,000 compensation plus costs for a defective e‑scooter bought in August 2023.
Sundargarh District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered Ola Electric Technologies Pvt Ltd, its Khurda unit and its Sundargarh service centre to refund Rs 1,16,801 to Kishore Kumar Rochwani, a resident of Adarsh Nagar, and pay Rs 50,000 as compensation for mental agony plus Rs 10,000 for litigation expenses after finding the Ola electric scooter bought on August 29, 2023, suffered from manufacturing defects and service deficiency. The amount must be paid within 30 days or attract 9% annual interest.
What did the commission order Ola Electric to pay?
The commission’s July 22 order directed Ola Electric Technologies Pvt Ltd, its Khurda unit and the Sundargarh service centre to refund the purchase price of Rs 1,16,801 paid by Kishore Kumar Rochwani. It also ordered payment of Rs 50,000 as compensation for mental agony and service deficiency, and Rs 10,000 towards litigation expenses. According to the order, the total relief amounts to Rs 1,76,801, which the commission described as the sum required to make the complainant whole. The directive explicitly states that the payment must be made within thirty days of the date of the order, failing which the outstanding sum will attract interest at the rate of nine percent per annum until realization.
Why did the commission find the e-scooter defective?
According to the complaint filed by Rochwani, the scooter developed repeated problems soon after purchase and became non‑functional on multiple occasions. Despite lodging complaints through the Ola app and visiting the Sundargarh service centre repeatedly, the defects were not permanently rectified. Ola, in its written submission, contended that "all complaints raised by the customer were attended to promptly and that necessary repairs were carried out whenever issues were reported." However, the commission observed that the vehicle continued to develop faults shortly after purchase and that the service providers failed to effectively resolve the problems. It held that the scooter suffered from manufacturing defects and ruled that the buyer was entitled to relief under consumer protection provisions. The commission further noted that the issues persisted even after multiple service visits, indicating a deficiency in both manufacturing and after‑sales service.
What are the payment terms and consequences of delay?
The commission said the amount must be paid within 30 days of the order. If payment is not made within that period, the sum will attract 9% annual interest until realization. Complainant Rochwani approached the consumer commission in November 2025 after the scooter’s persistent issues. The order also mentions that Ola Electric Technologies Pvt Ltd is headquartered in Bengaluru, with a manufacturing unit in Khurda and a service station in Sundargarh, Odisha. The case highlights the application of consumer protection law to electric two‑wheelers, a growing segment in India’s automotive market.
Reporting by Malay Ray, a journalist with The Times of India based in Rourkela, who covers social issues, human interest stories, startups, inventions, the environment, women empowerment and tribal life in the Sundargarh district of Odisha.
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What amount did the Sundargarh consumer commission order Ola Electric to refund?
Rs 1,16,801.
What compensation and additional costs were awarded besides the refund?
Rs 50,000 for mental agony and service deficiency, and Rs 10,000 for litigation expenses.
When did the complainant purchase the Ola electric scooter?
August 29, 2023.
When did the complainant approach the consumer commission?
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Ansuya Minz
Senior District Correspondent, Sundargarh
Ansuya Minz has covered Sundargarh district for six years, reporting on the steel belt's industry, tribal welfare policy, and the Rourkela sports ecosystem. She is based in Rourkela.
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