Ashok Tolat, a 80-year-old Ahmedabad resident, was extremely disappointed when his Rs14-lakh Chevrolet Forester, which he bought in 2004, was not as advertised. Ashok said, ‘I told the dealer that I wanted to drive in water and on dirt tracks. He showed me a video which claimed that the car could be driven with ease on all terrains.’

A few months later, he realised that when the car was driven off the road or in water, it would break down. He said, ‘When I complained, the dealer said the manual stated that the car was a passenger vehicle with limited off-road capabilities.’

After being ignored by GM India and the dealer, he filed a case in the consumer court. The forum ruled in his favour and asked GM to pay him Rs14 lakh with an interest rate of 9%. GM challenged this at the state consumer forum, which upheld Ashok’s claim, but ordered GM to pay him only Rs50,000 as compensation.

Dissatisfied, Ashok approached the national commission in December 2006. Two years later, it ordered GM to pay him Rs12.5 lakh and Rs50,000 towards legal fees. It also asked GM to deposit Rs25 lakh in the Central Consumer Welfare Fund.

GM then challenged the National Commission’s order in the Supreme Court. In November 2009, the Supreme Court also ruled in Ashok’s favour. Ashok says, ‘All I need to do now is hand over the car and collect the Rs13 lakh from the company.’