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Baron chief accused of 'threatening' detective, gets bail

Our Correspondent in Bombay

Baron International's chief executive Kabir Mulchandani was produced before a metropolitan court in Bombay on alleged charges of threatening a private detective. He was later released on bail.

Mulchandani was released by the 13th metropolitan court, presided over by Magistrate Valavalkar at Dadar in central Bombay, after he furnished a bond of Rs 5,000, sources said.

On Wednesday morning, he was picked up by the R A Kidwai Marg police station following a complaint lodged by a private detective Vishwanath Dagdhu Khetan.

Khetan has alleged that Mulchandani has threatened him with dire consequences. However, the judge, after hearing the case, decided to release Mulchandani, a Baron spokesperson said. It is still not known on whose behalf Khetan was working as a detective.

Baron has been making waves in the consumer electronics industry in India of late. Its aggressive marketing and attractive exchange offers have been making established industry leaders sit up and take notice.

Baron had first worked wonders for the Akai brand in India. Later on, it started marketing Aiwa products in India. Recently, the two companies issued a joint statement quashing rumours of a split between them. Baron is now on the verge of launching a new range of assembled television sets under the TCL brand name at a throwaway price.

In the course of building marketshares for its business partners, Baron is believed to have made many bitter enemies out of reigning market-leaders in the consumer electronics industry. The company was instrumental in organising an international cricket tournament in Sri Lanka in September for the Aiwa Cup.

On Monday night, Mulchandani had told a television channel that his company has "tremendous capacity" to revolutionise the CE industry in India. "Imagine Baron as a big pipeline, a pipeline that can carry goods to the consumers all over India. We have used only 30 per cent of the pipeline's capacity uptil now. There is immense scope to offer many more electronic products besides televisions and music systems."

Mulchadani was also critical of the consumer electronics industry in the pre-liberalisation era. "There were duopolies that reigned supreme, caring two hoots for the consumer. Baron merely started offering innovative schemes backed by quality products. This made all the difference. People said Baron has revolutionised the industry. So much so that I got feedback from a consumer that a Baron-promoted television set was so sturdy it didn't break up after falling down from the second floor of a building."

The maverick entrepreneur refuted his competitors' allegation that he resorts to gimmickry. "My jury comprises the retailers and consumers who have already delivered the judgement on Baron. Our sales are top. Competitors can say whatever, I care a damn."

Additional reportage: UNI

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