| 'Make in India' campaign deflates in JK | | Electronic goods unit exists in papers, production stopped, partners bickering | | Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, June 28: With much fanfare Metro Hydro Engineers, an SSI Unit at Samba Industrial Growth in the month of October 2015, had launched "Snow Glow" brand of LED, a step in direction of Make in India campaign, but after only few months, the unit is existing in papers only as production has stopped and the partners have entered into legal battles.
In the month of October, 2015, a press conference was organized in Srinagar in which Metro Hydro Engineers, had announced launching of brand "Snow Glow" LED with a very catchy tagline, "Born in J&K, Illuminating India", which was widely carried by newspapers.
But after only eight months, the proprietor of M/S Metro Hydro Engineers, Dr. Masud Tabish Malik of Residency Extension Jammu Tawi, had lodged a police complaint against their partner and has also knocked the door of court.
According to the complaint submitted by Dr. Masud Tabish Malik to SHO Samba, it has been maintained that he had reached an agreement with Sheikh Nasreen of Amlak Traders vide agreement dated 9/11/2015. Sheikh Nasreen was appointed as Regional Distributor (Super Stockist) and by virtue of agreement, she was supposed to pay Rs. 25 lakhs as security besides stocks of Rs. 58 lakhs were transferred to super stockists against payment of Rs. 28 lakhs, which includes Rs. 25 lakh as security.
He further alleged that on 26/3/2016, he had entered into a partnership deed for running the business but after the partnership deed, they have (Sheikh Nasreen and Sarfraz) had threatened to eliminate him and even showed him revolver. "The complaint is living under fear psychosis and accused are searching him and have also threatened to forcibly occupy business establishment at IGC Samba after evicting the complaint", he has alleged in the complaint, which was also forwarded to Director General of Police, Inspector General of Police, SSP Samba.
Talking to Early Times Dr. Masud Tablish said that he had given Rs. 57 Lakhs goods to Amlak traders but they didn't distribute the goods and have also not making the payments. "Even they also draw Rs. 5 Lakhs from my account and have started harassing me", he alleged, adding that even some police officials were also involved.
Countering the allegations of partner, Sarfraz Sheikh of Amlak Traders alleged that the factory outlet in Samba was only existent in papers only besides there was no machinery in the factory besides production was stopped in the month of November 2015.
"As per the agreement, a stockiest has to stock the items and not to sale. It is the duty of proprietor to keep sale boys and other staff for marketing. We were given LED and other electronic items at very exorbitant rates which accounts for nearly Rs. 56 Lakhs and all the items are gathering dust in a store room as marketing was never done by the proprietor and even the money spent on advertisement was also paid by me and not by proprietor", Sarfraz said.
He further added that so far they have paid Rs. 47 Lakhs to proprietor of Metro Traders and in return he has been sending legal notices to Amlak Traders. "The factory in Samba was actually an assembling unit and not a manufacturing as it is showed in the business partnership. The items were so much costly that none will purchase the items as LED is a replacement item and without any production unit, where will these items will be replaced", he alleged.
Sarfraz further alleged that they were duped by the proprietor of Metro Enterprises of huge amount and by sending legal notice, he was trying to get rid of them. "We only want our money back. He can take back all the electronic items but being politically influential and his relatives in police and administration, he has been sending threats", he alleged.
Vikram Jain, who is a Bank-guarantor of Metro Enterprises, which secured a loan amount of Rs. 41 Lakhs from JK Bank Samba SIDCO Branch said that after he came to know about the activities of Dr. Masud Tabish Malik, he approached the Bank authorities to cease the accounts and not made any payment. "But Bank authorities informed me that Rs. 24 Lakhs was already withdrawn by Dr. Masud Tabish, which was very shocking for me but I again requested them to cease the machinery, finished items from the closed factory so that my family will be saved", he said, adding that he also came to know from Industries department that Rs. 2.5 lakhs rent was also outstanding to Metro Enterprises and Rs. 90 thousands of SK Enterprises was also outstanding against Metro. |
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