An Aligarh man who claimed his iPhone overheated repeatedly before bursting inside his pocket has secured relief from a district consumer commission after alleging the incident injured his thumb and damaged his wedding photographs and videos. He told the commission he and his wife arranged another wedding celebration after discovering the damage.
District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Aligarh, directed Apple India and local electronics seller Bittu Bhaiji Electronics to either replace the phone or refund its purchase price of Rs 29,500, with 10% annual interest. It also ordered payment of Rs 36,139 towards medical expenses and Rs 5,000 in litigation costs.
The amounts total Rs 70,639 if the refund option is chosen, apart from interest on Rs 29,500. The commission did not award the much larger amount sought for the alleged wedding-related losses.
What happened to the iPhone
According to Premraj Singh's complaint, he purchased the iPhone for Rs 29,500 on August 14, 2020. He alleged that the handset overheated on July 15, 2023, prompting him to complain orally to Apple. He claimed he was told such incidents sometimes happened.
Singh said the phone heated up again on August 5, 2023, and he informed the local seller, who allegedly ignored his complaint.
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On August 12, 2023, the phone allegedly burst while inside his pocket, injuring his thumb. Singh said he reported the incident to police that day.
What happened after the incident
Singh claimed he learnt on August 13 that his wedding photo album had also been burnt. He said the damage left him distressed and that he and his wife held another wedding celebration, with photographs and videos taken again.
He was treated at a hospital from August 13 to August 20, 2023. Medical records submitted to the commission showed treatment expenses of Rs 36,139.
Singh alleged he suffered substantial financial loss and emotional distress because of the incident. His complaint sought a replacement phone or repayment of its price, along with substantial sums for another wedding celebration and treatment.
What did he seek from the commission
Singh initially calculated his claimed losses at Rs 99.295 lakh but restricted his demand to Rs 50 lakh, citing the commission's financial jurisdiction.
His requested relief included a new phone or a refund of Rs 29,500, Rs 51 lakh for expenses associated with holding another wedding celebration and Rs 48 lakh for treatment and the shock and depression he said he experienced.
The commission's final order, however, did not grant the claimed wedding-related amount or the larger sum sought for emotional distress. It awarded the medical expenses supported by the records and litigation costs, in addition to the phone-related relief.
How did the commission assess the complaint
The commission noted that Apple submitted affidavits beyond the prescribed period for filing its written statement and said those submissions were of no importance. Bittu Bhaiji Electronics did not contest the case.
In its October 1, 2026, judgment, the commission said there had been no rebuttal of Singh's pleadings. It consequently held that the phone was defective and that there was a deficiency in service.
The finding was based on the material before the commission and the absence of an effective rebuttal to the complainant's allegations.
What does the final order say
The commission directed the opposite parties to replace the iPhone with a new one or repay Rs 29,500, with interest at 10% per annum from the relevant period covered by the order. It separately awarded Rs 36,139 as compensation for medical expenses and Rs 5,000 towards litigation costs.
The companies were given 45 days to comply. The commission warned that failure to follow its directions could lead to proceedings under Section 72 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which provides for punishment for non-compliance with consumer commission orders.
The decision was pronounced by commission president Hasnain Qureshi, with member Purnima Singh Rajpoot also on the bench.