Moga (Punjab): Moga District Consumer Disputes Redressal forum has directed a Coca Cola bottling plant to pay more than Rs one lakh in fines and damages for releasing in the market contaminated soft drinks.

A laboratory test found "foreign material injurious to health" in a 1.5 litre bottle of Coca Cola.

The forum passed the order on August 18 in relation to a complaint filed on November 22, 2002, by one Balwinder Singh of Kokari Kalan whose family became sick and had to be treated by a private doctor after consuming the impugned soft drink.

Balwinder Singh submitted one of the two impugned soft drink bottles, in sealed condition, to the forum, which was sent for laboratory test at Chandigarh.

Based on the results of lab test that detected harmful material in the soft drink sample and after listening to the complainant and the respondents (including the retailer who sold the drinks), the forum directed the Coca Cola bottling plant at Baddi, district Solan, to deposit Rs one lakh with the district Red Cross Society and Rs 10,000 as compensation to the complainant.

The retailer was also directed to compensate Rs 2000 to the complainant.

PTI