Aligarh Panel Orders Apple and Retailer to Replace or Refund iPhone
Premraj Singh says he bought the handset on August 14, 2020, for Rs 29,500. A consumer commission in Aligarh has ordered Apple India and local retailer Bittu Bhaiji Electronics to replace it or refund the purchase price after the phone allegedly burst in Singh's pocket and injured his thumb, the Times of India reported.
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission also awarded Singh Rs 36,139 for medical expenses and Rs 5,000 in litigation costs. If the companies issue a refund, the Rs 29,500 is subject to interest at 10 per cent per annum from the date Singh filed his complaint until full payment. They have 45 days to comply.
Overheating reports came first
Singh told the Commission that the phone overheated on July 15, 2023, and that he made an oral complaint to Apple India. He said he was told such incidents sometimes happened. After another overheating episode on August 5, he complained to Bittu Bhaiji Electronics, but said the retailer did not act.
At about 8 am on August 12, 2023, the phone allegedly burst inside his pocket. Singh said it injured his thumb and damaged his wedding photo album. He filed a police complaint that day. Later, he held another marriage celebration with his wife and arranged to have photographs and videos taken again.
Some media reports identify the handset as an iPhone 7. The Commission's order does not name the model, as Navbharat Times noted.
In its order, pronounced on October 1, 2026, the Commission found the phone defective and ruled that the companies had provided deficient service. It noted that the opposite parties had not rebutted Singh's pleadings. Apple India filed affidavits after the prescribed period for its written statement. Bittu Bhaiji Electronics did not contest the case.
What the order covers
Singh sought a replacement or refund. He also claimed large sums for repeating the celebration and for the shock and distress he said he suffered. The Commission rejected those latter claims. Medical records showed that Singh was hospitalised at Varun Hospital from August 13 to August 20, 2023, and incurred Rs 36,139 in treatment expenses.
The case concerns a consumer dispute over an older handset, separate from product-market news such as NerdsMagazine's iPhone demand report.
Apple India and the retailer must provide a new phone or refund the Rs 29,500 purchase price. The refund carries interest at 10 per cent per annum from the complaint date until full payment. They must also pay the medical expenses and litigation costs. Failure to comply within 45 days could lead to prosecution under Section 72 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
