Maruti Suzuki India — brand new maruti baleno alpha (p) car fire incident at chennai !!

Address:	600034
Website:	www.marutisuzuki.com

I am Balakrishnan R serving at Indian Army, 5 Madras regiment, Arunachal Pradesh. I booked and got a delivery of brand new Maruti Suzuki Baleno car - Alpha 1.2 Petrol (TN73 P 1418), Chassis No: MBHEWB22SHE125342, Engine No: 7103708. on 5th June'2017 at Khivraj NEXA, Chennai, Ambattur though CSD (Army Canteen).

On 23rd day of purchase, my new Maruti Baleno car caught fire on 28th June'2017 at 11:00 PM inside parking area of Government quarters campus under parked condition at Nungambakkam, Chennai.

It was just 23 days old car and ran only 300 KM's, on 28th June'17 around 11:00 PM, we received info over phone from the campus residence stating sparkling sound & smoke coming from the car, all we gathered & tried for controlling of fire. When this incident took place Local police authorities, Fire brigade and few media journalist reached to the spot within 10 minutes, fire brigades tried to control the fire, but the fire was uncontrollable which completely burnt the vehicle. same was broadcasted in Polimer TV, Kalaignar TV, etc, & published in daily news papers.

Nungambakkam F3 Police Station has filed a complaint on this issue and provided a FIR to us on 29th June 17. Egmore fire & rescue station has also registered this incident and provided their report on 29th June’17. This issue is already reached to Chennai Commissioner Office and Officials are closely monitoring the case with Nungambakkam F3 Police Station.

I and my family kept our patience right from the beginning and co-operated for this investigations. But Yesterday (13th June'17), Maruti NEXA Team declaring that, car caught fire not because of Manufacturing defect or technical fault and its due to external factors which is contradict with the facts and reports provided by Police, Fire and Fore & Seek investigations.

Maruti Team soothing us that you will get your insurance money as per your IDV quoted. It's distressing that Insurance company (United India) paying me the compensation as per IDV, which was not our choice at all and we only spent Rs.21000 as insurance fee, whereas after many inquiry and study, we choose Maruti Suzuki Baleno car as our choice and spent whole rest of money to them, only for their company reputation, customer support and Trustworthiness.

Being first generation car buyer, had many aspiration and dream on buying this car. So at most priority were given and bought this as fully loaded top variant Maruti Baleno car without any compromise. Its huge heartbreaking loss to us and couldn't imagine that we lost very huge money within 20 days timeline on buying this car.

If Maruti are 100% sure on denying manufacturing defect or technical fault. I am 200% sure that there is no possibility for fire through external factors, There is no history of security concerns raised in our quarters campus till now, since its inauguration at the year 2000. Our Government Quarters located in heart of the City, has 24/7 police patrol at Loyola college gates, which is quite opposite to our campus in 10 to 20 meters and surrounded by very busy road. Moreover people who are living in the quarters are Tamilnadu Government Fire and rescue brigade officers.

In addition to that, Police authority, Fire Dept, fore & seek Dept., has submitted their report and it says fire starts from front portion of the car and there is no trace for external cause of fire. And the people who saw this incident lively also stating the same.

Maruti became an automobile giant, only through the customer like us giving positive reviews, feedback, customer experience and recommendations through good word of mouth. Even i switched from Hyundai I20 to Maruti Baleno due to my friend's suggestions only.