The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a fine of 1 lakh rupees on the Kerala-based electronics company Hogar Technologies and Innovations. The fine was issued for providing misleading advertisements and product descriptions for radio stations that lacked necessary regulatory information, such as operating frequencies and licensing requirements.
CCPA representatives stated that such omissions can mislead consumers regarding the legality of operating devices without obtaining the required permits from regulatory bodies.
The authority clarified that personal mobile radios operating within the established frequency range of 446.0–446.2 megahertz are exempt from licensing requirements under certain conditions. However, other wireless radio frequency devices operating outside this exempted range are subject to relevant regulatory requirements.
During a previous investigation, CCPA discovered over 16,970 non-compliant listings for radios across various platforms. Notifications were sent to 13 e-commerce companies, including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Meta (Facebook Marketplace), JioMart, IndiaMART, and TradeIndia. In the final ruling against 12 companies, cumulative fines totaling 58 lakh rupees were imposed for unfair advertising and dishonest trade practices.