Brands
Pepperfry launches Bespoke Services
MUMBAI: Pepperfry has announced the launch of its Bespoke Services— its one-stop-shop to resolve all ‘interiors woes’ for the homes of its customers. The company has opened the Pepperfry Bespoke Studios in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Gurugram, where people can choose interior decors from various styles in every service including modular solutions, tiling, and flooring or design consultancy.
Pepperfry describes its Bespoke Studios as grandiose experiential stores with life-like displays of modular solutions and grants visitors access to a comprehensive material library which leads them into an immersive experience of viewing the vast varieties of materials and textures curated by Pepperfry experts while being consulted by renowned interior designers and architects. The company offers transparent pricing mechanism and flexible payment methods to its customers for availing the services.
For this specialised service, Pepperfry has partnered with many brands including Hettich, Bosch, Siemens, Kajaria, Gyproc, Kaff, Faber, Picostone, among others which will ensure that the offerings are not just wide spectrum but, also of luxurious quality at reasonable prices.
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.
