Compensate for 'mental harassment': Consumer forum

PUNE: A consumer disputes redressal forum here has ordered a private bank to pay a compensation of Rs one lakh to a woman whose car was seized by its recovery agents for an alleged default in repayment of Rs 4 lakh loan.

The Additional Judge of the Forum S J Kshirsagar who delivered the order, on Wednesday told that the bank had been asked to pay the compensation to Renu Bhandwalkar within a period of 30 days.

Passing its order on Bhandwalkar's complaint, filed in September last year, the forum said the bank should pay the amount as a compensation for the "mental harassment" caused to the borrower who had claimed that ICICI bank did not follow her instructions regarding recovery of loan installments from her savings account even though she had given post-dated cheques and had substantial deposits in the bank.
   
The complainant alleged that she had to approach court and police to take possession of the car fitted with laptop. When it was finally returned to her by the bank's recovery agents, it was in a damaged condition, she claimed.
   
The respondent bank, during the forum hearings had refuted the claim of the borrower that she had left instructions to transfer her deposits to saving account in the event of insufficient balance.
   
Earlier also, the bank was asked to pay a compensation of Rs 55 lakh in a coercive recovery case by a court.