Andhra Pradesh High Court.
Andhra Pradesh High Court Stays Investigation Against Sony India MD Sunil Nayyar in Consumer Fraud Case: Amaravati – The Andhra Pradesh High Court has granted interim relief to Sunil Nayyar, the Managing Director of Sony India, by staying all criminal proceedings against him in a consumer fraud case. The case stems from a complaint filed by a customer regarding the servicing of a faulty Sony television.
Justice Venkata Jyothirmai Pratapa issued the order, stating, “Considering the submissions made, there shall be stay of all further proceedings pursuant to Crime No.338 of 2024 on the file of Bandar Taluk Police Station, Krishna District.”
Sunil Nayyar, Sony India Managing Director.
Nayyar had approached the High Court seeking to quash the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Bandar Taluk Police Station in Krishna District. The FIR alleged criminal conspiracy, cheating, and criminal breach of trust in connection with a dispute over television service.
The criminal complaint was lodged by Singaraju Vara Prasad, a 52-year-old LIC agent, who purchased a Sony television in 2017. When the TV malfunctioned in April 2024, Prasad contacted Pranank Electronics Sony Service Centre in Vijayawada for repairs.
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According to the complainant, the service center collected ₹300 as inspection charges and then proposed exchanging his old TV for a new one worth ₹69,900 at a cost of ₹31,500, citing the unavailability of spare parts. Prasad later discovered similar models online for approximately ₹41,000, leading him to suspect fraud.
After sending a legal notice in May 2024, the television was eventually repaired for ₹2,000 with a three-month guarantee. However, the TV ceased functioning again within a week, prompting Prasad to file a criminal complaint in August 2024, which resulted in the FIR being registered in November 2024. The complaint named both Nayyar and the local service center, alleging a conspiracy to defraud customers.
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In his petition filed on July 14 this year, Nayyar contended that his implication was solely due to his designation as Managing Director, with no material evidence to suggest his direct participation or knowledge of the transaction. His counsel argued that criminal law requires mens rea (guilty mind) and direct involvement, which were absent in this case, asserting that the matter was essentially a commercial dispute inappropriately given a criminal color.
Nayyar was represented by Senior Advocate Konda Srinivas Murthy, along with Advocates Safia Said, Bharat S Kumar, Surabhi Rao, Aarush Gangal, and Anup Karavadi. The High Court’s interim order provides a temporary reprieve for the Sony India MD as the legal proceedings continue.
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