New York: An Indian-American has sued a New Jersey car dealership for $1.26 million, alleging it refused to sell him a swanky Mercedes Benz because the manager thought he came from a “high-risk area” and he might ship the vehicle to the Taliban.

Surjeet Bassi, 50, claims the manager at Prestige Motors told him that he came from a “high-risk area” where people buy cars and export them to the Taliban. Bassi, who has lived in New Jersey for 30 years, said he told the manager he is Indian and not connected to the Islamic fundamentalist organisation, NJ.com quoted from the federal lawsuit. Spokeswoman Theresa V Boylan said in a statement, “As a company, we do not condone discriminatory practices or conduct. Out of respect for the process and all parties, it is our policy not to comment on pending legal matters.”