MAM
Venu Takes the Wheel as TVS Shifts Gears at the Top
MUMBAI: TVS Motor’s leadership engine just got a new ignition, Sudarshan Venu is in the driver’s seat now. In a landmark move signalling the next chapter in its leadership journey, TVS Motor Company has announced that Sudarshan Venu will take over as chairman and managing director effective August 25, 2025. The company’s board of directors made the decision unanimously, underscoring Venu’s instrumental role in shaping TVS Motor’s strategy and global ambitions over recent years.
Venu, currently serving as managing director, will succeed Ralf Speth, who has opted not to seek reappointment as director at the company’s Annual General Meeting on August 22, 2025. Ralf, the former CEO of Jaguar Land Rover and a seasoned automotive veteran, will officially step down as Chairman at the conclusion of the AGM.
However, this isn’t a full stop, it’s a strategic shift. Ralf will continue his association with TVS as its chief mentor for a three-year term starting 23, August 2025, offering strategic counsel and drawing on his vast experience in automotive leadership.
Expressing his gratitude, Venu said, “I am really honoured and excited for the future. TVS has been built on a foundation of customer centricity, quality, and technology values we must preserve as we reimagine our future. I’m deeply thankful to our chairman emeritus for his vision, and to Ralf for pushing us to think global and act bold.”
The leadership change comes at a time when TVS Motor is expanding aggressively across global markets and investing in next-gen technologies, including electric mobility and connected vehicles. Venu has been central to this transformation, overseeing strategic acquisitions, international collaborations, and product innovations that have given the company new momentum.
Ralf Speth’s stint as chairman was marked by a greater global orientation for TVS, including talent onboarding, enhanced R&D processes, and bold investments in future-ready technologies. In his new role as chief mentor, he is expected to help guide the company’s long-term vision and innovation roadmap.
With this transition, TVS isn’t just changing drivers, it’s fine-tuning for the next lap of growth. And with Venu at the helm and Speth still in the pit lane, the company seems all set to accelerate into its next evolution.
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Maharashtra panel orders Lodha to refund Rs 5 crore to homebuyers
Consumer court flags unfair practices in long-running property dispute case
MUMBAI: In a sharp rebuke to one of India’s biggest real estate players, the Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Macrotech Developers to refund nearly Rs 5 crore to a senior citizen couple, Uttam and Anindita Chatterjee. The ruling, delivered on March 13, 2026, calls out the developer for “deficiency in service” and “unfair trade practices”, bringing closure to a dispute that has stretched over a decade.
The case traces back to 2015, when the couple booked a 3-BHK flat at World Towers in Lower Parel for Rs 12.22 crore, with possession promised within a year. What followed was a series of changes that complicated matters. After deciding to exit the project, they were persuaded to shift to a 4-BHK in another development priced at Rs 8 crore, with delivery scheduled for 2018. However, within months, the price was allegedly increased to Rs 10 crore. After demonetisation reshaped the market, similar flats were reportedly being offered at lower prices, but the couple were not given the benefit.
Despite paying over Rs 2.83 crore, the couple neither received possession nor clarity. Instead, in 2018, the developer unilaterally cancelled the booking, retained part of the amount as earnest money, and argued that the buyers were investors rather than consumers. The commission rejected this claim, observing that casual references to “investment” do not take away consumer rights when the purchase intent is residential.
The bench also held that the developer could not penalise buyers for payment delays while failing to meet its own delivery commitments. It noted the lack of formal documentation for revised terms and termed the prolonged retention of funds without delivering a home as exploitative.
As part of its order, the commission directed the developer to refund Rs 2.83 crore paid by the couple, along with interest at 10 per cent per annum, amounting to around Rs 2.12 crore. In addition, Rs 1 lakh has been awarded for mental agony and Rs 50,000 towards litigation costs, taking the total payout to over Rs 5 crore. The developer has been asked to comply within two months.
For now, the ruling serves as a reminder that in real estate, shifting terms and delayed promises can carry a significant cost.
