MAM
Vidyabhanu shifts gears to Porsche after steering Skoda’s pre-owned venture
MUMBAI: Abhishek Vidyabhanu has swapped his role building Skoda’s certified pre-owned business for a fresh challenge at Porsche India, where he will lead the marque’s approved car sales, corporate accounts and financial services from September 2025.
The 22-year industry veteran joins Porsche as national manager for approved and corporate sales after nearly four years at Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, where he established the carmaker’s entire corporate and pre-owned verticals from scratch. His stint there saw him turn a loss-making mobility division into a profit engine worth more than Rs 350 million, while also overseeing HR services, facilities and even office-space design.
Vidyabhanu’s curriculum vitae reads like a tour through India’s automotive ecosystem. He cut his teeth flogging commercial vehicles at Force Motors and Tata Motors, graduated to sales strategy at Mahindra & Mahindra, managed Toyota dealerships in Mumbai, then spent nearly seven years at Audi, first as area manager, then running the western region, before heading the German brand’s approved plus programme.
At Skoda, he coined the “certified pre-owned” nomenclature that Volkswagen and Kia have since adopted. During the pandemic, he also dreamt up contactless virtual demonstrations and steered the accessories business.
The IIM Kozhikode alumnus describes his philosophy as simple: comfort signals the end of learning. Now he gets to test that theory at one of the world’s most storied sports car brands, where the learning curve promises to be steep and the road ahead thrillingly uncertain.
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.
