There's a fly in my soda: India fines Coke $110

An Indian consumer complaints court has fined Coca-Cola $110 after a businessman said he felt humiliated when he served clients a fizzy soft drink and found a dead fly inside the bottle.

Mohan Lal, a Delhi entrepreneur, took legal action over the incident in which he bought five bottles of Limca, an Indian lemon and lime soda made by the Coca-Cola group.

"The complainant felt humiliated and the members of the (client) delegation were shocked. It brought bad reputation to him and resultantly the business deal could not be finalised," the consumer court said.

"The Limca bottle... was found to contain a dead fly and in the circumstances a case of unfair trade practice is clearly made out."

Coca-Cola was ordered to pay 5,000 rupees ($110) and the retailer 2,000 rupees in compensation to Lal, the Press Trust of India news agency reported on Sunday, adding that the company had denied the allegations.

Lal had sued for $13,000, including legal expenses.

The court backed his complaint even though he had no receipt, saying that bills were not normally issued with small items in India.
 

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