In a significant consumer protection ruling, the Bulandshahr District Consumer Commission has ordered Flipkart to refund a customer who received a counterfeit Chinese smartphone instead of the iPhone 14 Pro he had ordered. The consumer panel directed the e-commerce giant to pay back the full purchase amount along with interest and compensation for mental harassment.
The commission issued the order on September 9, 2026, requiring Flipkart to refund Rs. 1,43,335 to customer Om Prakash Singh, a resident of Anoopshahr. The company must also pay 7% annual interest on that amount from the date the complaint was filed. Additionally, Flipkart was ordered to pay Rs. 30,000 in compensation, which includes Rs. 20,000 for mental harassment and Rs. 10,000 toward litigation costs.
Singh placed the order on May 29, 2023, using his credit card to purchase what was advertised as a Deep Purple iPhone 14 Pro with three rear cameras. When the package arrived at an address in R.K. Puram, New Delhi, Singh opened it in front of the delivery executive. Instead of the promised iPhone, the box contained a green Chinese smartphone bearing a fake Apple logo and only two rear cameras. Singh recorded the entire opening process on the delivery agent’s phone, and the video was later shared with him via WhatsApp.
Immediately after discovering the fraud, Singh contacted Flipkart customer care and initiated a return request through his phone. However, the seller later canceled the return request. Singh said he made multiple subsequent attempts to resolve the matter through customer support but was repeatedly stonewalled. He further alleged that a company representative marked the product as damaged without conducting a proper inspection and that he was not allowed to explain the issue.
In its defense, Flipkart argued that it operates as an online intermediary connecting customers with independent sellers and is not directly responsible for the products sold on its platform. The company also cited its open-box delivery process, maintaining that Singh could have checked the package and refused delivery upon discovering the incorrect product. Flipkart denied all allegations of fraud and harassment.
The consumer commission rejected Flipkart’s defense entirely. District Consumer Commission Public Information Officer Shekhar Verma stated that the case was heard by commission president Justice Hasnain Qureshi and member Neelam Kumari. “After considering the arguments of both sides, the commission rejected the company’s defence and held that it had adopted an unfair trade practice and was seriously deficient in providing service,” Verma said.
The commission gave Flipkart 45 days to comply with the order. If payment is not made within that period, the outstanding amount will attract 8% annual interest.
Leave a Reply