CCPA fines Kerala electronics firm ₹1 lakh for misleading walkie-talkie ads

The Central Consumer Protection Authority levied a ₹1 lakh fine on Kerala-based Hogar Technologies and Innovations for advertising walkie-talkies without essential regulatory information such as frequency bands and licensing obligations. Officials said the missing details might mislead buyers into assuming the devices can be used without the necessary permits. The authority clarified that personal mobile radios operating at 446.0-446.2 MHz are exempt from licensing, while other frequencies require compliance.

In a broader crackdown, the CCPA discovered over 16,970 non-compliant walkie-talkie listings across various online marketplaces and sent notices to 13 platforms, including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Meta, JioMart, IndiaMART and TradeIndia. Final orders against 12 of those entities have been issued, with cumulative penalties of ₹58 lakh for misleading ads and unfair trade practices.