Volkswagen Emission scandal took a heavy take when Department of Justice in U.S sued Volkswagen alleging that nearly 600,000 Volkswagen cars had illegal defeat device enabled. Volkswagen is facing a minimum penalty of $20 billion (around Rs 200,000 Crore) and this could be as high up to $61 billion (around Rs 600,000 crore) if a max fine up to $25,500 (around Rs 25 lakh) per vehicle is imposed.

The  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) filed complaint on the behalf, the VW Group's actions not only led its vehicles to "cause emissions to exceed its standards", but they also violated the Clean Air Act by selling, introducing, or importing into U.S motor vehicles that are designed differently from what Volkswagen had stated in applications for certification.

The Assistance attorney General of Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division John C. Cruden said “Car manufacturers that fail to properly certify their cars and that defeat emission control systems breach the public trust, endanger public health and disadvantage competitors. The United States will pursue all appropriate remedies against Volkswagen to redress the violations of our nation’s clean air laws alleged in the complaint”.