Congress Leader Sentenced to 3 Years for Defying Udupi Consumer Order
By ETF Desk
A senior member of the Indian National Congress, S. Kumar, was sentenced to three years in prison by the Mangalore Civil Court for refusing to comply with an order issued by the Udupi Consumer Protection Commission. The court found that Kumar had deliberately ignored notices and organised a protest rally at a local market, directly challenging the commission’s directive.
The Udupi commission had earlier banned the sale of certain imported noodle batches that were found to contain unauthorized additives. Despite receiving a legal notice, Kumar staged a demonstration to support the vendor, leading to his arrest on a charge of defying a statutory order. The case was subsequently brought before the Mangalore Sub‑Judge, who imposed the custodial sentence.
The ruling has sparked reactions across Karnataka, with opposition leaders applauding the decision as a win for consumer protection, while the Congress party condemned it as political persecution. Consumer advocacy groups have welcomed the verdict, stating it reinforces the authority of local regulatory bodies. Source: Google News – Udupi.