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Court orders dealer to replace repainted Rs 25 lakh car or pay compensation
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News18•13-10-2026, 13:13
Court orders dealer to replace repainted Rs 25 lakh car or pay compensation
- •A consumer court in Kannur ordered a Maruti Suzuki dealer to either provide a new car or pay compensation after a newly purchased Rs 25.21 lakh Maruti Invicto was found repainted before delivery.
- •Buyer Vijesh noticed fresh paint on the bonnet, left door, and upper section after taking delivery in November 2024, suspecting it was done to conceal prior damage.
- •An expert commissioner confirmed the unauthorized repainting and poor repair quality, noting that the core quality of the vehicle was compromised.
- •The court directed the dealer to replace the car or pay Rs 2 lakh for repairs, along with Rs 1.5 lakh for mental agony and Rs 10,000 as litigation costs.
Key Questions Answered
The Kannur District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ordered the dealer to either take back the defective Maruti Invicto and provide a new car or pay two lakh rupees for repairs, alongside compensation for mental agony and litigation costs totaling approximately ₹3.6 lakh.
After taking delivery of the vehicle, the buyer discovered fresh paint on the bonnet, left door, and upper section, which an expert inspection confirmed had affected the original paint quality and caused color mismatches.
Because the authorized Maruti Suzuki dealer failed to appear in court or submit a written response despite receiving a legal notice, the consumer commission proceeded with the case ex-parte.
