PALAMPUR: “A Maruti Car for half the price” lured over one hundred and six residents of Baijnath town, who were virtually cheated by the agent of Maruti Authorized dealer, today called on Ravinder Thakur, H.P.Irrigation and Public Health Minister and complained that police had not initiated any action against the culprits who had pocketed over one crores rupees collected from them under the pretext of providing Maruti Car at half the price. All the victims urged the minister to personally intervene and get their money refunded from the Competent Motors where their cross cheques were accounted for and enchased.
It may be recalled that Mr. Anish Achraya an agent of Competent Motors, authorized dealers of Maruti Udyog Limited, Mandi had collected over one hundred and six demand drafts for rupees 1.30 lakh each from different persons from Baijnath and had assured them that he would provide them Martui Vehicles at half the price. These persons handed him over their demand drafts. He had provided cars at half the price to fifty persons but the remaining fifty six persons were yet to get the cars.
Later when all the victims approached the Competent Motors, Mandi (HP) in this regard, they were shocked when management of company told them that it had not launched any such scheme and could not provide them cars at half the price. The victims received another set back, when they came to know that against their demand drafts some other persons had got the cars.
All the victims while talking out side Baijnath police station said that they had purchased the demand draft in the name of company and the same were encashed and accounted for in the account of company, how could company refuse to refund their amount or provide them car after getting additional amount.
Dr. Sakirti Awasthi posted in Baijnath Civil Hospital said that she had purchased a DD for rupees 1.30 lakh from PNB, Baijnath in the name of Competent Motors, Mandi, but she was shocked to know that against her DD the car was provided to one Kalpna of Baijnath. Likewise Mulakh Raj Mehata another resident of Baijnath said that against his DD the car was given to the resident of Hamirpur. Rakesh Sood said against his DD the car was given to a resident of Deol. They said scam was going on with the connivance of Competent Motors; it could not get rid from its responsibility.
Meanwhile Baijnath police had arrested four persons in this scam. However, the court had granted bail to Anish Achraya till July 9, 2009.
A senior journalist from Palampur.
