Karnataka farmer told he ‘won’t even have Rs 10’ at car showroom, Anand Mahindra responds

KEY STORY

•  A Karnataka farmer who had gone to a Mahindra showroom to book an SUV was shooed away by sales executives. Thirty minutes later, the farmer returned to the showroom with Rs 10 lakh to buy his dream car.

• Kempegowda RL, from Ramanapalya in Tumakuru district of Karnataka, was humiliated by a sales executive at a Mindra showroom.

• The executive allegedly told the farmer that he won’t even have “Rs 10 in his pocket”, let alone Rs 10 lakh for the car. The sales executive thought that the farmer and his friends were window-shoppers. However, before leaving, Kempegowda dared the sales executive to deliver the car “today itself” if they brought the money.

• In a viral video, the farmer is heard saying in Kannada, “He said I wouldn’t even have Rs 10, let alone Rs 10 lakh to buy the car.”

• Kempegowda told TOI, “He thought we won’t be able to pull together that much cash because banks were closed by then.”

• The arcenut farmer returned to the car showroom after half an hour with the cash. However, the showroom could not deliver the car. The staff was helpless as Saturday and Sunday were holidays.

• Kempegowda and his friends were furious because of the humiliation they had faced. They called the police to register a complaint.

• They also refused to leave the showroom. Police personnel from Tilak Park police station had to persuade the farmer and his friends to return to their homes.

• Kempegowda said that he doesn’t want to buy the car anymore. He demanded a written apology from the showroom for “humiliating” him and his friends.

• “I’ve asked the sales executive and the showroom authorities to apologise to us in writing for humiliating me and my friends… Now, I’ve lost interest in buying the vehicle,” Kempegowda said.

• Several people tagged Anand Mahindra and asked if any action will be taken against the sales executive. Mahindra responded to the row and reassured that the issue will be addressed urgently. “The Core Purpose of Mahindra Rise is to enable our communities & all stakeholders to Rise. And a key  Core Value is to uphold the Dignity of the Individual. Any aberration from this philosophy will be addressed with great urgency,” he tweeted.

The Core Purpose of @MahindraRise is to enable our communities & all stakeholders to Rise.And a key Core Value is to uphold the Dignity of the Individual. Any aberration from this philosophy will be addressed with great urgency. https://t.co/m3jeCNlV3w

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) January 25, 2022

“Dealers are an integral part of delivering a customer centric experience & we ensure the respect & dignity of all our customers. We are investigating the incident & will take appropriate action, in the case of any transgression, including counselling & training of frontline staff,” a senior official of Mahindra Group said.