Mumbai Consumer Court Dismisses Complaint Against Wow Momo Over Veg-Non-Veg Order Mix-Up [Read Order]

Mumbai: The Mumbai Consumer Court has dismissed a complaint filed against Wow Momo Foods Private Limited, questioning why strictly vegetarian customers would choose to order from restaurants serving both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food if their religious sentiments are genuinely hurt by the presence of non-vegetarian items.

The court, presided over by Hon’ble Mr. Pradeep G. Kaduj (President) and Hon’ble Ms. Gauri M. Kapse (Member), delivered the judgment after examining the evidence and arguments presented by both parties.

The case involved two complainants who ordered a “Steam Darjeeling Momo Combo” from Wow Momo’s outlet at Café Coffee Day, Sion, Mumbai, on December 19, 2020. Despite claiming to have specified their preference for vegetarian food twice, they alleged receiving non-vegetarian “Steam Chicken Darjeeling Momos” instead.

The complainants sought compensation of ₹6,00,000 from Wow Momo, citing deficiency in service, mental harassment, and hurt religious sentiments. They alleged that an employee named Pooja Sharma ignored their instructions and served the wrong order.

However, Wow Momo Foods Private Limited strongly contested these allegations in its written statement. The company denied having an employee named Pooja Sharma and claimed that the actual server was Roshani Pasi, who was allegedly physically abused by the complainants.

The court made crucial observations in its judgment, stating: “The Complainants have failed to produce any evidence that they ordered vegetarian momos. The invoice indicates that they ordered non-vegetarian momos. The veg and non-veg momos are priced the same.”

Addressing the issue of religious sentiments, the court observed: “If the Complainants were strictly vegetarian and non-veg food hurts their religious sentiments, then why did they choose to order from a restaurant that serves both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, instead of opting for an exclusively vegetarian restaurant?”

The court also emphasized that the complainants failed to substantiate their claims about performing religious ceremonies or to provide details about any Poojari or Pandit who allegedly performed the referenced Pooja.

Wow Momo argued that the complainants used “muscle power” and created unnecessary nuisance, prompting the company to refund the money. Despite the alleged behavior, the company offered a gift voucher worth ₹1,200 as a goodwill gesture, but the complainants demanded ₹3 lakhs each.

In its final order, the court stated: “The Complainants have not been able to establish any deficiency in service on the part of the Opposite Parties,” and dismissed Consumer Complaint No. CC/16/2021 without any order as to costs.

[Read Order]