Consumer panel awards Rs 2.6 lakh after e-scooter battery blast injures man

Dharwad: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed a Hyderabad-based electric vehicle manufacturer to pay Rs 2.6 lakh in compensation to a Dharwad resident after a battery supplied with an e-scooter exploded while charging, injuring his father and damaging property.Complainant Aniket Bandekar of Attikolla village in Dharwad district had purchased an electric vehicle manufactured by Hyderabad-based Pure Energy Pvt Ltd on June 16, 2022, for Rs 97,500. The vehicle’s battery was covered under warranty.According to the complaint, the battery suddenly exploded while being charged at his residence, causing severe burn injuries to his father, who was nearby. The blast also damaged a sewing machine, an overlock machine and customers’ garments kept in the house.After tending to his injured father, Bandekar repeatedly sought repair or replacement of the battery. However, the company allegedly failed to provide any relief, forcing him to approach the Dharwad District Consumer Commission on May 28, 2024, alleging deficiency in service and supply of a defective product.After examining the evidence, the Commission, headed by president Eshappa Bhute and member Vishalakshi Bolashetty, observed that the vehicle had been purchased for livelihood purposes and that the battery was under warranty at the time of the incident.

It held that the explosion during normal charging pointed to a manufacturing defect and constituted deficiency in service.The Commission directed the company to pay Rs 30,000 for damage to the sewing and overlock machines, Rs 70,000 for loss of customers’ garments and other household property, Rs1 lakh towards medical expenses and compensation for the burn injuries suffered by the complainant’s father, Rs 50,000 for mental agony and hardship, and Rs 10,000 towards litigation costs, taking the total compensation to Rs 2.6 lakh.