In a step forward for consumer rights, the Chennai Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (North) has fined Pepsico India with Rs 15,000 for supplying a soft drink bottle with dead insects floating in it, reported The New Indian Express.

The redressal forum headed by K Jayabalan, and T Kalaiyarasi, member, said that the manufacturer of the soft drink cannot escape its liability if consumer finds dead insects floating in the drink. Since the complainant has gone through mental agony, the forum ordered the company to pay Rs 10,000 towards compensation and Rs 5000 towards litigation expenses.

The complaint was filed by P Thalapathy from Aminjikarai. He said that he went to a bar attached to a TASMAC shop on Strahans Road and bought a Mirinda on July 27, 2013. Before consuming it, he found dead insects floating in the bottle. 

He filed a complaint with the forum against Pepsico and the TASMAC bar.

Thalalpathi had registered a complaint with a Pepsico executive. The company sent a sample to King Institute in Chennai. The report confirmed that the sample contained dead insects and was not fit for consumption, reported The Times of India.

The forum however acquitted the bar from the case as the defects were found in the soft drink bottle and the shop was just a seller. 

Pepsico in defence said that the bottle in questions was not manufactured by them and the bar must have tampered with the bottle and changed the contents.

The forum rejected Pepsico’s defence and said that as the complainant did not suffer any loss or injury, he is not entitled to any relief but as the complainant faced mental agony and the company cannot escape its liability, the forum asked the company to pay the fine.