Bengaluru, February 19, 2025: A Bengaluru consumer court fined PVR INOX ₹1 lakh for delaying movie screenings with excessive advertisements, calling it an “unfair trade practice.” The case was filed by a viewer whose Sam Bahadur show in December 2023 started 25 minutes late due to ads. The court also awarded ₹20,000 for distress and ₹8,000 for legal costs.
The court criticized the practice, stating businesses should not profit from consumers’ time. PVR INOX cited rules on public service ads, but the court noted they are limited to 10 minutes. The complainant recorded the ads as evidence, and the court dismissed PVR INOX’s piracy claim.
