Bengaluru Mercedes Mishap Highlights Serious Lapses in Consumer Rights and Law Enforcement
Bengaluru Mercedes Mishap Highlights Serious Lapses in Consumer Rights and Law Enforcement
Bengaluru, April 30, 2025 — The shocking incident involving Divya Chhabra’s ₹1.4 crore Mercedes-Benz, damaged beyond recognition by reckless valets at The Big Barbeque in Marathahalli, has sparked outrage and drawn attention to deeper issues in consumer protection and civic accountability in Bengaluru.
What began as a regular Sunday outing on February 26 turned into a harrowing ₹20 lakh ordeal after restaurant valets misused Chhabra’s vehicle to create Instagram content. One valet, Abdulla Laskar, was found to be driving without a valid licence, and investigations later revealed that the other two valets were also unqualified.
CCTV evidence, insurance assessments, and RTO investigations uncovered a web of violations — from fake driving licences to unauthorized use of the vehicle. Rather than taking responsibility, the restaurant reportedly tried to conceal the incident, presenting forged documents, a falsified agreement, and even an imposter to pose as the driver involved.
20 minutes of Food Cost 20 lakh loss in Bengaluru Marathahalli
— Karnataka Portfolio (@karnatakaportf) April 3, 2025
Bengaluru’s failing governance, corporate negligence, and police corruption have once again come to light in a shocking incident at The Big Barbecue, Marathahalli. A woman’s ₹1.4 crore Mercedes-Benz was wrecked due… pic.twitter.com/6RX0genSpQ
When Chhabra approached law enforcement for justice, she was allegedly advised to accept a mere ₹2 lakh settlement — just a tenth of the estimated repair costs. Meanwhile, the valets reportedly fled to Assam, and the restaurant continued operating without consequence.
This isn’t just an isolated case of negligence. It underscores a troubling pattern of corruption, weak enforcement, and the erosion of consumer rights. If an incident involving a luxury car and clear evidence of wrongdoing can be brushed aside so easily, the implications for ordinary citizens are even more concerning.
The Mercedes incident serves as a wake-up call. Civic authorities, law enforcement, and businesses must be held accountable — not just for damage control after the fact, but for restoring public trust and ensuring basic consumer protections. Bengaluru’s reputation as a global tech hub cannot mask the systemic failures threatening the safety and rights of its citizens.
