Latest news with #Mercedes-BenzC200
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Time of India
Drug peddler who moved in a Merc lands in police net
Noida: Behind the wheel of a sleek Mercedes-Benz C200, this 21-year-old college dropout from Kerala had almost turned the city's streets into a marketplace for drugs — moving around colleges and educational institutions in his luxury vehicle to make deliveries on the sly. Hrishikesh Damodar's carefully crafted facade to hide his crime came crashing down on Wednesday afternoon — quite literally — when a police team signalled at him to stop during a routine check in Sector 126. The young man, who had moved to Noida just a few days ago and started staying with friends in Jaypee Kosmos of Sector 134, attempted to escape. But his Mercedes swerved into a divider, leaving him stranded as the engine failed to start. When the cops questioned him, Damodar admitted to carrying drugs in the boot of his car. "There were multiple parcels of cannabis and OG, cleverly concealed in delivery packets. The entire parcel was estimated to weigh around 7kg," said Sumit Shukla, additional deputy commissioner of police. According to cops, Damodar wasn't too interested in studies, prompting him to drop out of college in 2024. He, however, told cops he was pursuing BBA in the distant mode. Damodar came to Noida recently to meet a few friends. His journey into drug dealing began when his friends promised lucrative earnings if he could reach out to potential customers. Damodar targeted the young clientele, mostly college-going students. Dressed in casual shirts, tees and jeans, the 21-year-old blended perfectly into the college crowd. His operation was meticulous yet simple. Damodar connected with suppliers — including one identified as Micheal — and used social media platforms to deal with his clients. Youths, police said, would contact him through messaging apps, getting the drugs delivered in neat packages that looked like a box of chocolates or cakes. He kept his digital footprint minimal. "The pictures of drugs that he shared, locations he dropped, payment receipts and conversations with customers were all deleted once a transaction was over," an officer said. The money he earned with the first few drug deals was enough to buy him a second-hand Mercedes. The car, registered to a Delhi-based company, not just fulfilled his desire for a luxury vehicle but also became his signature mode of transport between college campuses. "To avoid detection, Damodar took flights between cities after completing a few deals. His luck, however, ran out during the routine police check on Wednesday," an official said. An FIR was registered against him under sections 8 and 20 of the NDPS Act. "He has been taken into custody. We are now trying to find out the extent of his drug network," the official said.
Hindustan Times
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Mercedes-Benz India to hike prices from June 1 by up to ₹12.2 lakh
Mercedes-Benz has announced it will be increasing prices across its lineup by up to 1.5 per cent. The company will be increasing prices in a two-stage process with the first hike to come into effect from June 1, and the second on September 1, 2025. The two-stage price revision aims to soften the impact on customers and offer a more flexible purchase option. The price hike will range between ₹90,000 and ₹12.2 lakh, the company confirmed. The price hike will range between ₹ 90,000 and ₹ 12.2 lakh with a part of it applicable from June 1, and the rest from September 1, 2025. Mercedes-Benz India aims to soften the impact on customers with the two-stage price revision. Mercedes-Benz says that it is only passing a marginal portion of the cost increase to customers. The C-Class gets the lowest price hike at ₹90,000 and will now start from ₹60.3 lakh. On other hand, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class gets a maximum price hike of ₹12.2 lakh, and is now priced at ₹3.60 crore. All prices are ex-showroom. You can check out the modelwise price increment below. Mercedes-Benz models Price Hike Model Old Price (Ex-Showroom) New Price (Ex-Showroom) Difference Mercedes-Benz C 200 ₹ 59.4 lakh ₹ 60.3 lakh ₹ 90,000 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4MATIC ₹ 76.8 lakh ₹ 78.3 lakh ₹ 150,000 Mercedes-Benz E 200 ₹ 79.5 lakh ₹ 81.5 lakh ₹ 200,000 Mercedes-Benz GLE 300d 4MATIC AMG Line ₹ 99 lakh ₹ 1.01 crore ₹ 250,000 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 450 4MATIC ₹ 1.28 crore ₹ 1.31 crore ₹ 300,000 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 4MATIC ₹ 1.34 crore ₹ 1.37 crore ₹ 310,000 Mercedes-Maybach S 680 ₹ 3.48 crore ₹ 3.60 crore ₹ 12,20,000 Mercedes said that while it continued to absorb the steep cost hike so far, it was compelled to pass the same on to the market to offset operational expenses and maintain business sustainability. The automaker said the price revision has been triggered by a steep hike in forex rates since January this year. This has severely impacted the cost structure of components and products, especially the fully imported models. Why have a two-stage price revision? Explaining the need for a two-stage price revision, Mercedes said the same will help customers to plan their purchases and opt for finance schemes that better suit their requirements. The automaker claims for models like the GLC and GLC SUVs, the EMI difference will be less than ₹2,000 after the price hike. Under Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, the automaker offers a host of flexible payment options including lower interest rates, reduced EMIs, partial ownership, and more. Check out Upcoming Cars in India 2024, Best SUVs in India. First Published Date:
