Can Consumer Forum Draw Adverse Inference Due to Criminal Case Pendency?

In the realm of consumer disputes in India, questions often arise about how parallel legal proceedings impact Consumer Forum decisions. A common query is: can consumer forum draw adverse inference against opposite party due to pendency of criminal case? This issue pits the swift justice promised under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), 1986 (now 2019), against potential overlaps with criminal litigation. Generally, judicial precedents indicate that the mere pendency of a criminal case does not justify drawing an adverse inference against the opposite party in consumer proceedings. Consumer forums maintain independent jurisdiction, focusing on civil remedies like compensation for deficiencies in service or defective goods. [