When it comes to luring customers, some stores seem to care about consequences while making outlandish claims.
While nations across the globe have been racing against timeto find a vaccine or cure for this disease, we have an electronic shop in Kerala using COVID-19 to their advantage.
An electronics shop in Kerala has landed in trouble afterthey put out a bizarre advertisement that promise customers a "cashback ofupto Rs 50,000 without GST" if they tested positive for coronavirus within24 hours of purchase.
The well known dealer of electronic products and home appliances based in Kerala, named Nandilath G-Mart said that cashback?would be applicable on purchases made from August 15 to the end of the month only if they have COVID-19 in between.
Soon after the 'controversial' message went viral, the shopsaw a sudden increase in the number of customers, which forced theadministration to take action.
Also Read: We Can All Learn About Compassion From This Kerala Woman Who Helped A Blind Man Board A Bus
Reports state that the electronics goods shop had publishedthe advertisement in print, electronic, and digital mediums.
The bizarre advert alarmed Binu Pulikkakkandam, a lawyer andcouncillor of Pala Municipality in Kottayam. He wrote to the Chief Ministerstating that the promotional advertisement was unlawful and punishable.
Pulikkakkandam said that the offer may prompt a coronaviruspositive person to go the shop to buy by hiding his health condition and laterclaim the cashback.
Also Read:?Once Celebrated As A Success Story, Kerala Likely To Have 10-20K Daily COVID Cases In September
"Those without sound financial backgrounds might beforced to get COVID-19 infection in order to earn so much of money. It is amassive appeal to spread the contagious disease intentionally. The businessowner has forgotten social responsibility while aiming to flourish hisbusiness. According to IPC Section 269, Information Technology Act of 2020,Section 89 of Consumer Protection Act in 2019 and the health norms of KeralaMunicipality Act, they have committed a matter of serious offence," News18 quoted Pulikkakkandam letter.
As soon as the matter was brought to the CMO, the policereached the venue and brought the shutters down. Moreover, a probe has alsobeen initiated against the shop owner.
The incident comes at a time when the state on Mondayreported the highest single day surge of 1,725 COVID-19 cases, taking theinfection tally to 46,140 while 13 deaths took the toll to 169.
Also Read: Age Is Just A Number! 103-Year-Old Kerala Man Recovers From COVID-19 Inside 20 Days