The Consumer Complaints Redressal and Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a ₹1 lakh fine on Hogar Technologies and Innovations LLP for misleading advertisements and product listings of walkie-talkies that failed to disclose essential regulatory information. According to the latest press release from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, the order was passed by the CCPA, headed by Chief Commissioner Smt. Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Shri Anupam Mishra, under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The action forms part of the CCPA's ongoing enforcement measures against misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices relating to the listing, advertisement and sale of walkie-talkies across online platforms and websites.
The CCPA's enforcement action followed a comprehensive investigation process that began with a preliminary inquiry under Section 19 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. As reported in the latest investigation report, the CCPA issued a notice dated 12 June 2025 seeking detailed information including product listings, frequency and licensing disclosures, ETA/WPC certification details and sales information from January 2023 onwards. Hogar Technologies' reply dated 21 January 2026 asserted that it held a valid Dealer Possessing Licence and obtained Equipment Type Approval for applicable devices, while contending that its website was primarily informational and did not facilitate direct online transactions. However, the CCPA referred the matter for investigation on 3 March 2026 after concluding that these assertions did not adequately establish prominent, product-specific disclosures at the point when consumers viewed the advertisements.
The CCPA clarified the legal framework for walkie-talkie device usage in its latest order, emphasizing that personal mobile radios operating within the prescribed frequency range of 446.0–446.2 megahertz are exempt from the requirement of obtaining a licence, subject to applicable conditions, under the Use of Low Power and Very Low Power Short Range Radio Frequency Devices (Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Rules, 2018. However, the Authority noted that all other wireless radio frequency devices, including walkie-talkies operating beyond the aforesaid frequency range, are mandatorily required to secure Equipment Type Approval (ETA) from the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing to ensure conformity with applicable regulatory framework. The CCPA observed that possession of regulatory approvals does not absolve an advertiser of its obligation to provide accurate, complete and material information to consumers at the pre-purchase stage, and that advertisements and product listings must provide adequate information regarding applicable regulatory requirements. The CCPA found that the company's online listings failed to provide essential information about operating frequencies and licensing requirements, thereby misleading consumers into believing the devices could be used without proper authorization.
During the proceedings, Hogar Technologies submitted that it possessed a valid Dealer Possessing Licence (DPL) and that the devices were covered by applicable Equipment Type Approval (ETA) certifications. The company also contended that its website was primarily intended for informational and lead-generation purposes and did not facilitate direct online transactions. However, the CCPA observed that the absence of an online payment gateway or shopping cart facility does not exclude promotional representations made through a website from the ambit of misleading advertisements under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The Authority emphasized that such omissions could expose consumers to potential legal and financial consequences and undermine their ability to make informed purchasing decisions. The CCPA specifically noted that Hogar Technologies acts as an active seller by endorsing non-compliant products through hosting unlicensed walkie-talkies on its website, thereby violating Section 2(28) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The Authority found that the omission of material information concerning operating frequencies and licensing requirements was likely to mislead consumers about the conditions under which the advertised devices could lawfully be operated.
The CCPA's action against Hogar Technologies is part of a larger enforcement initiative against misleading walkie-talkie advertisements. As reported in the press release, the CCPA had earlier taken suo motu cognisance of the large-scale listing and sale of walkie-talkies on e-commerce platforms without mandatory regulatory disclosures. During its examination, over 16,970 non-compliant listings were identified across platforms, and notices were issued to 13 e-commerce entities, including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Meta (Facebook Marketplace), JioMart, IndiaMART and TradeIndia, among others. This comprehensive enforcement action demonstrates the authority's commitment to protecting consumer interests and ensuring accurate information in marketing materials for electronic communication devices, with the CCPA emphasizing that the absence of accurate and complete information constitutes a serious consumer detriment.
