A warranty dispute involving a Sony Bravia television has escalated into a larger legal battle with a consumer claiming that Sony India had sent him a Rs 5 crore legal notice after he publicly documented his experience with a failed TV.
Laxmi Kant Tiwari, who has shared details of the dispute through a website and social media, claims that his 55-inch Sony Bravia K-55XR70 Mini LED TV developed a display issue while it was still under warranty. According to his account, Sony later rejected the warranty claim stating that the panel had been damaged due to an external cause.
The television was reportedly purchased on September 20, 2024, for Rs 1,50,031. Tiwari says the TV came with a three-year Sony warranty, while he also purchased a two-year extended warranty from Croma.
According to Tiwari’s account, vertical lines began appearing on the display on July 2, 2026, around 22 months after the purchase. He maintains that the television had remained wall-mounted and had not been dropped or physically damaged.
A technician subsequently visited his home and photographed the display. Tiwari claims Sony later classified the issue as damage caused by an external factor and denied warranty coverage. He was reportedly provided a repair estimate of Rs 29,130.
The consumer says he repeatedly asked Sony to explain what physical damage had been identified and whether any technical tests had been conducted. According to the material published on his website, he did not receive the technical explanation he was seeking.
Well, this one is interesting. Tiwari registered a domain SonyBravia.com and published a detailed account of the dispute rather than limiting his complaint to customer support and social media. The website includes the timeline of TV failure, photos, details and more stuff. Tiwari argues that Sony should provide evidence supporting its conclusion that the panel suffered external damage.
Interestingly, the website also claims that a technician offered to get the television covered under warranty in exchange for Rs 10,000 in cash. However, it describes this as Tiwari’s own recollection of the conversation, and there is no independent finding establishing the allegation.
The dispute escalated further on September 1, when Tiwari said he received a legal notice sent on behalf of Sony India. According to the documents described on his website, the notice demanded the removal of SonyBravia.com and related social media posts, along with an unconditional apology. Tiwari claims the notice warned of possible civil and criminal action and mentioned damages of up to Rs 5 crore. He has since said he does not intend to remove the website and maintains that his consumer complaint remains pending.