New Delhi, October 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of ₹1 lakh on Hogar Technologies and Innovations LLP for allegedly misleading advertisements and product listings of walkie-talkies that failed to disclose essential regulatory information, including operating frequencies and licensing requirements.
According to an official statement issued on Sunday, the order was passed by the CCPA, headed by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Anupam Mishra, as part of its wider crackdown on misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices involving the sale of walkie-talkies across online platforms and websites.
The authority found that product listings on Hogar Technologies’ website did not clearly specify the devices’ operating frequencies, applicable licensing requirements and regulatory approvals. Such omissions could lead consumers to believe that the devices could be operated legally without the necessary authorisations, it said.
Under the applicable rules, personal mobile radios operating within the prescribed frequency band of 446.0–446.2 MHz may be exempt from licensing, subject to specified conditions. Devices operating outside the exempted range remain subject to relevant regulatory requirements.
During the proceedings, the company submitted that it held a valid Dealer Possessing Licence and that its devices were covered by applicable Equipment Type Approval certifications. It also argued that its website was intended primarily for providing information and generating leads rather than facilitating direct online sales.
The CCPA maintained that holding regulatory approvals does not remove an advertiser’s obligation to provide consumers with accurate and complete information before purchase. It also clarified that websites can fall within the scope of misleading-advertisement provisions under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, even when they do not offer online payment or shopping-cart facilities.
The action follows the authority’s earlier suo motu examination of walkie-talkie listings across e-commerce platforms, during which more than 16,970 allegedly non-compliant listings were identified. Notices were issued to 13 entities, including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Meta, JioMart, IndiaMART and TradeIndia.
The CCPA said it had passed final orders against 12 entities, imposing cumulative penalties of ₹58 lakh over misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices related to walkie-talkies. Penalties included ₹10 lakh each against Amazon Seller Services, Flipkart Internet, Meesho, Meta Platforms and TradeIndia, and ₹1 lakh each against several other businesses, including Hogar Technologies.
Some companies, including Amazon Seller Services, Flipkart Internet and Meta Platforms, have challenged CCPA orders or proceedings before judicial forums.
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