National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission directs Mantri Developers to compensate buyers

Bengaluru: The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has directed the Mantri Developers to compensate the Mantri Residency Apartment Owners Welfare Association in Bengaluru with Rs 7.12 crore. 

The order follows a complaint by Shivakumar Krishnamurthy, a resident of Mantri Residency on behalf of homebuyers about the non-return of lumpsum refundable maintenance deposits collected during the purchase of flats. 

During the hearing on September 23, Sushil P Mantri, representing Mantri Developers, appeared before the NCDRC and confirmed that the company was prepared to refund the principal amount to the homebuyers, according to a press note issued by Mantri Residency Apartment Owners Welfare Association.

“It is noteworthy that Snehal Mantri and Pratik Mantri did not appear before the NCDRC despite being directed to do so by the High Court of Karnataka in Writ Petition No 23791/2024 dated 10.09.2024. NCDRC had also sanctioned bailable warrants for Sushil's wife Snehal Mantri and son Pratik Mantri, but in the recent hearing High Court of Karnataka has stayed the warrant, preventing any arrest for the time being,” the press note said. 

On September 2, the NCDRC directed the Station House Officer (SHO) of Cubbon Park police station in Bengaluru “to execute a Non-Bailable Warrant of arrest against Sushil Mantri, Chairman and Managing Director of the Judgment Debtor Company ie M/s Mantri Estate Management Pvt. Ltd, and to produce him before this Hon'ble National Commission on 23.09.2024 at 10.30 am., the next hearing date in the case. Herein fail not.”

Advocate Anirudh Suresh represented the respondents.