In an atypical turn of events, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an FIR against 15 individuals based in Delhi on charges of cheating based on a complaint lodged by e-commerce firm One97 Communications Ltd. that operates under the brand Paytm.
CBI has registered FIR against 15 customers who are residents of Kalkaji, Govindpuri and Saket besides unknown officials of One97 Communications—parent company of Paytm. The complaint from the Manager Legal, M Sivakumar, claimed that the company makes payment for defective products received by a customer and also arranges a reverse pickup of the damaged product which is sent to the merchant.
“Allegation is that in some cases from March 2014 to April 2016, where refunds were made to the customers, delivery of orders was also successfully made on the same customers. Since delivery of orders was successful, refund should not happen. The generation of refunds has led to loss to Paytm to the tune of Rs 6.15 lakh,” a senior CBI official said.
Although rare, but according to the norms, the agency can register cases under IT Act in the territory of Delhi even against private individuals.
The process is done by a team of customer care executives who have been assigned specific IDs and passwords to handle such complaints from the customers and arrange refund and pickup. It is alleged that the company found that in 48 cases customers had received refunds even though the delivery of orders was made successfully to them.
“As a matter of facts wherein delivery of orders were successful and satisfactory to the customer, refund should not happen. However, in all these 48 cases refund of order amount happened to the respective customers to the tune of Rs 6.15 lakh,” the complaint, which is now part of the FIR, alleged.
It alleged that customers “illegally” appropriated money refunded in their bank accounts and wallets. It claimed that the acts reflects “serious” fraudulent act and foul play with common intention to wrongfully gain along with such involved customers.