Facing Frequent Issues With New Electric Bike, Angry Customer Sets Ola Showroom On Fire In Karnataka

Mohammad Nadeem, a resident of Kalaburagi claimed that he had been facing constant issues with his Ola electric bike that he had purchased from a showroom. On Tuesday, he got into an argument with the staff at the showroom after which, he poured petrol on the vehicles and set them on fire. Later, he went to the local police station and reported the incident.

Kalaburagi (Karnataka):Angry about the repeated issues he faced with his newly purchased Ola electric bike, a man here, set the showroom, from where he had purchased the vehicle, on fire on Tuesday, police said.

According to Karnataka Police, the man poured petrol on the Ola electric bike showroom on Humanabad Road and set it ablaze. Then, he went to the police station and confessed his crime.

Mohammad Nadeem, a resident of Kalaburagi city, has been taken into custody and the Chowk Police Station has initiated investigations.

Nadeem had bought a new electric bike three days ago but he had been repeatedly facing issues with the bike since the beginning. Even though it was mended twice, the snag was not fixed.

Finally, angry at failing to get his issues resolved, Nadeem arrived at the showroom and got into an argument with the staff on Tuesday. In a fit of rage he took petrol and poured it on the bikes in the showroom before setting them on fire, police said.

The showroom was engulfed in flames in no time. On information, firemen rushed to the spot and extinguished the fire. The bikes and goods in the showroom were all gutted in the fire.

The showroom owner had thought it to be a freak accident but the accused customer himself went to the police station and reported the matter. He surrendered himself saying he had set the fire himself. Investigations are underway, police said.

Congress MP from Sivaganga Karti Chidambaram in a post on X said, "OlaElectric is the next BYJUS." In a separate post on X, he added, "I am in no way condoning the conduct of the aggrieved customer. He has to face the consequences for his actions."

Ola is yet to comment on the incident.

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