MAM
Apollo Tyres ropes in Sachin Tendulkar – Signs a five-year association with the sports icon
MUMBAI: Apollo Tyres, the leading tyre maker, which has been going the distance with its sponsorship of the top English Premier League brand, Manchester United, over the last five years, has now roped in Sachin Tendulkar, one of the greatest cricketing icons of the world, as its brand ambassador for a period of five years. This is the first time that the company has associated with a celebrity as the face of its brand.
For Apollo Tyres, this association with Manchester United and Sachin Tendulkar is in line with its brand strategy, to reach out and engage with its target audience globally. The association with Tendulkar, will help the company leverage on his fan following and popularity as a sports icon to drive home the company’s own message of making every journey a safe and inspiring one.
Commenting on the association with Sachin Tendulkar, Neeraj Kanwar, Vice Chairman & MD, Apollo Tyres Ltd said, “Building the Apollo brand to its true potential is key to our growth. By securing Sachin Tendulkar’s association with our brand, we have embarked on an exciting journey together. I am sure this partnership will help us go the distance!”
Sachin is one of the few sporting icons who have emerged stronger even post hanging his bat! He is an Indian sports icon who is known globally, much as what Apollo Tyres is attempting to do. Tendulkar being a car enthusiast also gels well for Apollo Tyres.
In addition to it being the Global Tyre Partner for English Premier League club, Manchester United, Apollo Tyres also has a presence in the German Bundesliga, with its association with Borussia Monchengladbach. In India, it has a presence in the Indian Super League (ISL), being the principal sponsor of Chennaiyin FC, and in the I-League, with its title sponsorship of Minerva Punjab FC.
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.
