Court directs lodging of FIR on plea against Volkswagen's MD

A court here has directed Delhi police to lodge an FIR on a complaint against a top executive of Germany-based Volkswagen, directors of its authorised car dealer and a official of transport department on the issue of illegal charges levied on buyers.

Metropolitan Magistrate Rajinder Singh passed the orders for lodging FIR on a plea alleging that car dealers were levying charges like those for 'handling' in violation of law.

The complainant said that Central Motor Vehicle Rules and an August 2007 notification of Transport Department Delhi prohibits motor vehicle dealers from levying such charges.

"Looking at the scale and gravity of the allegation, it is deemed fit to direct the SHO concerned to register an FIR and investigate this matter. Accordingly, the SHO concerned is directed to register an FIR in accordance with law under the relevant sections," the judge said.

The complaint filed by advocate Rajiv Ranjan Raj alleged levying of illegal charges by car dealers and sought lodging of FIR for cheating, criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and for offences under Prevention of Corruption Act.

He made car dealer Bhasin Motors, its four directors, MD of Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd and a Motor Licensing Officer of Delhi Transport Department as party in the case.

Raj said Delhi Government's August 13, 2007 notification prohibited car dealers from charging anything in the name of service/miscellaneous charges from the purchasers.
He said Bhasin Motors charged him Rs 3,911 as handling and number plate charges apart from VAT March last year.

The dealer and officials of transport department are involved in a "mass scale fraud being played upon innocent purchasers by such unscrupulous dealers," Raj told the court.