Mohali, Jan. 15 -- The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission on Wednesday sentenced a real estate developer to three years of rigorous imprisonment for wilfully defying its earlier order to hand over a flat or refund money to a homebuyer.

Gurpreet Singh Sidhu, director of Emerging Valley Private Limited, was also fined Rs.1 lakh under Section 72 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

Observing that his conduct showed complete disregard for judicial orders, the commission, headed by president SK Aggarwal, with members Paramjeet Kaur and Lt Col JS Bath (retd), directed that the Rs.50,000 of the fine amount be paid to the complainant's legal heirs, while the remaining amount will go to the state exchequer.

The case relates to a f...