The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of ₹1 lakh on Hogar Technologies and Innovations LLP for running misleading advertisements and product listings of walkie-talkies that failed to disclose critical regulatory information — including operating frequencies and applicable licensing requirements. The order, passed on Sunday, 25 October 2026, was issued under the authority of Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Anupam Mishra.

What the CCPA Found

The CCPA examined advertisements and product listings of various walkie-talkie models displayed on the Hogar Technologies website and observed that the listings omitted the operating frequencies of the devices, applicable licensing requirements, and relevant regulatory approvals. According to the authority, such omissions could mislead consumers into believing that the devices could be legally operated without obtaining mandatory regulatory authorisations.

Under the rules governing low-power and very-low-power short-range radio frequency devices, personal mobile radios operating within the prescribed frequency range of 446.0–446.2 MHz are exempt from licensing requirements, subject to applicable conditions. Devices operating outside this range, however, remain subject to full regulatory requirements — a distinction the listings did not make clear.

What the Company Argued

Hogar Technologies submitted during proceedings that it held a valid Dealer Possessing Licence (DPL) and that the devices carried applicable Equipment Type Approval (ETA) certifications. The company also contended that its website was primarily designed for informational and lead-generation purposes and did not facilitate direct online transactions, arguing this placed it outside the scope of misleading advertisement rules.

The CCPA rejected both defences. It observed that possession of regulatory approvals does not absolve an advertiser of the obligation to provide accurate, complete, and material information to consumers at the pre-purchase stage. It further held that the absence of an online payment gateway or shopping cart does not exclude promotional representations made through a website from the ambit of misleading advertisements under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

Part of a Broader Enforcement Drive

The action against Hogar Technologies is the latest move in the CCPA's ongoing enforcement campaign targeting walkie-talkie listings across e-commerce and online platforms. The authority had earlier taken suo motu cognisance of large-scale non-compliant listings, identifying over 16,970 such listings across platforms and issuing notices to 13 e-commerce entities — including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Meta (Facebook Marketplace), JioMart, IndiaMART, and TradeIndia, among others.

The CCPA has so far passed final orders against 12 entities, imposing cumulative penalties of ₹58 lakh. These include penalties of ₹10 lakh each on Amazon Seller Services Pvt. Ltd., Flipkart Internet Pvt. Ltd., Meesho Pvt. Ltd., Meta Platforms, and TradeIndia (Infocom Network Pvt. Ltd.). Penalties of ₹1 lakh each have been imposed on JioMart (Reliance Retail Ltd.), Chimiya, MaskMan Toys, Talk Pro (Iconet Services Pvt. Ltd.), Sanchar Wireless Communications Ltd., Antriksh Technosys Pvt. Ltd., and Hogar Technologies and Innovations LLP.

Legal Challenges Underway

Notably, several of the penalised entities have contested the CCPA's orders before judicial forums. Amazon Seller Services Pvt. Ltd., Flipkart Internet Pvt. Ltd., and Meta Platforms have reportedly challenged both the orders and the proceedings initiated against them. The outcome of these legal challenges could have broader implications for how platform liability is defined in consumer protection enforcement.

What Happens Next

The CCPA's campaign signals that regulatory disclosure obligations apply at every stage of the consumer journey — including pre-purchase website listings — regardless of whether a direct transaction occurs online. Industry observers expect the authority to continue scrutinising both manufacturers and platforms for compliance. Sellers and dealers of radio frequency devices may need to urgently audit their listings to ensure frequency ranges, licensing conditions, and regulatory approvals are prominently disclosed.