In a significant legal escalation, the South Goa District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission issued a bailable arrest warrant against Bhavish Aggarwal, the founder and CEO of Ola Electric, on February 13, 2026. The warrant was issued following Aggarwal’s repeated failure to appear before the commission despite multiple formal notices.
The commission has directed the Bengaluru Police to arrest Aggarwal and produce him before the forum in Margao, Goa, on February 23, 2026.
The Case: A “Missing” Scooter
The warrant stems from a consumer complaint filed by Pritesh Chandrakant Ghadi, a 26-year-old resident of Goa, who purchased an Ola S1 Pro Gen 2 in August 2023 for ₹1.47 lakh.
- Manufacturing Defects: The complainant alleged that the brand-new scooter suffered from motor noise, a malfunctioning touchscreen that required hourly reboots, and Bluetooth connectivity issues.
- The “Disappearance”: After several failed repair attempts, the customer handed the vehicle over to an authorized Ola dealer in Vasco for further servicing. However, during subsequent hearings, the company’s legal counsel could not clarify the current whereabouts of the vehicle.
- Commission’s Stance: The commission observed that since the vehicle was in the company’s custody and they could not account for its location, personal clarification from the CEO was necessary.
| Legal Detail | Specification |
| Issuing Authority | South Goa District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission |
| Warrant Type | Bailable Warrant |
| Bail Amount | ₹1,47,499 (Equivalent to the scooter’s purchase price) |
| Next Hearing Date | February 23, 2026, at 10:30 AM |
| Legal Provision | Section 73 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) |
Broader Regulatory Pressure on Ola Electric
This individual arrest warrant comes amidst a period of intense regulatory scrutiny for Ola Electric in India.
- VAHAN Suspension: In November 2025, the Goa Government suspended the registration of new Ola Electric scooters on the VAHAN portal due to a massive backlog of unresolved service complaints and “lack of support.”
- CCPA Investigation: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) is currently conducting a comprehensive probe into the company’s redressal practices following over 10,000 complaints filed on the National Consumer Helpline.
- Show-Cause Notices: The Transport Department has previously issued notices to the company, threatening to cancel its trade certificate if service standards do not improve.
“It is necessary to call upon the CEO and founder of Ola Electric Ltd, Bhavish Aggarwal, to remain present in person to clarify the whereabouts of the said bike and to explain why the same has not been delivered.” — Commission Order.
