Watch: Unhappy customer sets Ola Electric showroom on fire
What's the story
In a shocking incident, an Ola Electric showroom in Kalaburagi, North Karnataka was set on fire by a disgruntled customer.
The perpetrator, identified as Mohammad Nadeem (26), is a mechanic who had purchased an electric scooter from the showroom on August 28.
His dissatisfaction stemmed from unresolved issues with his newly bought vehicle, that the staff failed to address despite his multiple visits.
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Karnataka: A customer set an Ola showroom in Kalaburagi on fire after facing issues with the ongoing service of his new bike.
— IANS (@ians_india) September 11, 2024
Following a verbal argument with the showroom owner yesterday evening, he set the showroom on fire. A case has been registered at Kalaburagi Chowk… pic.twitter.com/AItGyakP4f
Incident details
Arson act followed argument with showroom owner
Nadeem's frustration escalated into an act of arson after a heated argument with the showroom owner. He doused the showroom in petrol and set it ablaze, causing significant damage.
Initially, authorities suspected that a short circuit had caused the fire. However, further investigation revealed Nadeem's deliberate act behind this incident.
The fire resulted in the destruction of six scooters but fortunately did not cause any casualties as the showroom was closed at that time.
Investigation progress
Police apprehend suspect, assess damage
Following the incident, Kalaburagi Chowk police registered a case and apprehended Nadeem for questioning.
Sharanappa SD, the Commissioner of Police for Kalaburagi, stated, "The (servicing) response was not good, he went multiple times. Yesterday (Tuesday), when he went, he carried petrol and set fire to six bikes."
The police have estimated the damage caused by this act of arson to be worth over ₹8 lakh.
Public sentiment
Ola Electric faces public backlash over service issues
This incident comes amid increasing public dissatisfaction with Ola Electric's services.
The company, which recently went public and operates 431 service stations across India, is facing a significant backlog at its centers due to a high volume of complaints.
Several mechanics have voiced their concerns about the challenges they are facing in handling these issues.
However, Ola Electric has not yet issued any statement regarding this incident, or the broader service-related concerns raised by customers and staff alike.