A petition filed by Skoda Volkswagen India seeking a quash of FIR registered in Uttar Pradesh alleging installation of emission cheat devices in its car, has been dismissed by the Supreme Court.
Today (26th November 2020), a bench led by Chief Justice of India, SA Bobde has passed an order dismissing the appeal filed against the Allahabad High Court’s Order.
Earlier, the Allahabad High Court had directed that the company official shall not be arrested in the case till the submission of the police report, subject to the condition that he shall co-operate with the investigation and shall appear as and when called upon to assist in the investigation.
An FIR dated 10th July 2020 was registered against SKODA Volkswagen India for installing Cheat Devices in its manufactured vehicles in Noida.
During the course of submission before the Supreme Court, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Volkswagen India had submitted that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) slapping a fine on the manufacturer over the cheat devices had been stayed by the Supreme Court earlier in 2019 and the new FIR is also based on similar allegations that are now Sub-Judice in the apex court.
The allegation made before NGT was that the engines in Volkswagen cars have cheat devices and caused environmental damage and the FIR names its officers in India and abroad.
In March 2019, the NGT had imposed damages and an enhanced amount of compensation amounting to Rs 500 crore against the company on a finding that a ‘cheat device’ had been installed by it during laboratory tests in its vehicles which showed lower emissions.
