MAM
IIFL Finance signs Rohit Sharma as first-ever brand ambassador
MUMBAI: IIFL Finance, one of India’s leading non-banking finance companies, with over Rs 36,000 crore of assets under management, has signed up Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma as its first-ever brand ambassador.
IIFL Finance endeavours to stand out for talking straight and being honest with its customers. This ties in perfectly with Rohit Sharma who is known for his straight and effective approach to batting, successful captaincy, and a clean image.
IIFL Group MD and co-promoter R Venkataraman said, “We are glad to announce India’s leading batsman, Rohit Sharma, as IIFL’s brand ambassador. He is renowned for his straight drives. We believe in ‘Seedhi Baat’ or doing business the straightway. We do this by being customer-centric, offering relevant and simple products and ensuring transparency in our processes. Rohit is a living representation of brand IIFL values.”
Rohit Sharma said, “I am happy to be associated with IIFL Finance. #SeedhiBaat is how I live my life and play my cricket. One needs not just skills but also honesty and empathy to become a successful cricketer. And as a captain, I believe in straight talk as that is the key to success.” The cricketer is exclusively managed by IMG Reliance.
Interestingly, the first-ever campaign by IIFL Finance with Rohit Sharma is not a product promotion campaign but a public service message advising people on safety guidelines and rules to follow during lockdown to fight Covid19 outbreak. In the 30-second message titled “Rohit Sharma Ki Seedhi Baat”, Rohit in straight words urges people to stay at home, for the time to hit centuries and sixes will come later. This is a unique initiative which is very relevant considering the current situation.
IIFL Finance, through its subsidiaries, offers a wide spectrum of products such as home loan, gold loan, business loan, microfinance, capital market finance, developer and construction finance to a vast 30 lakh customer base. IIFL Finance has widened its pan-India reach through an extensive network of branches spread across the country and various digital channels.
Brands
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.
