Pune: Swiggy Accused of Defrauding Blue Nile Restaurant of Rs 56 Lakh

Camp, 24th May 2024: Swiggy, an online food ordering and delivery platform operating nationwide, has allegedly defrauded Blue Nile restaurant in Pune of Rs 56 lakh. The incident occurred between March 26, 2023, and November 7, 2023.

A complaint was lodged with the cyber police, leading to the registration of a case at the Bund Garden police station. The accused, identified as Sandeep Sharma, the manager of Swiggy company, faces charges under sections 419, 420, and 34 of the IPC. Vidyagauri Bhavkar, aged 55 and the Accounts Head of Blue Nile Restaurant, filed the complaint.

According to the Bund Garden police, Bhavkar has been working at Blue Nile restaurant as the accounts head and secretary since 1991. In recent years, online food ordering has surged in popularity, with consumers opting for home and workplace deliveries. Blue Nile Restaurant, witnessing a significant volume of online food orders, has partnered with delivery platforms like Success Hospitality, Zomato, and Swiggy. Through these platforms, Blue Nile’s food items are delivered to customers in Pune.

Blue Nile entered into an agreement with Swiggy in 2015, marking the commencement of online food delivery services through Swiggy. Many of Blue Nile’s customers prefer ordering via Swiggy. Upon accepting an order, Blue Nile prepares the food, which is then picked up by Swiggy’s delivery personnel and delivered to the customer. Swiggy processes payments made by customers online or in cash and transfers the due amount to the restaurant’s bank account through NEFT or RTGS within a stipulated period.

However, since March 2023, there has been a delay in the amount received by Blue Nile from Swiggy. Despite repeated attempts to contact Sandeep Sharma regarding the outstanding dues, the restaurant did not receive the promised payment. The complaint alleges that Swiggy has defrauded Blue Nile by withholding dues amounting to Rs. 54,62,786 and failing to pay TDS of Rs. 1,37,096, totaling Rs. 55,99,882.

Police Sub-Inspector Parmeshwar Garkal, the investigating officer, stated, “A complaint was lodged with the cyber police regarding the cheating of Blue Nile restaurant by Swiggy. The case has been registered and transferred to the Bund Garden police. Further investigation is ongoing.”