Lagatar24 Desk
Mumbai, Oct 5: The trade association CAIT has complained to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs about a Flipkart commercial for the upcoming Big Billion Days sale that features Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan, calling the advertisement “misleading”.
In its complaint to the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) referred to the commercial as “misleading” and detrimental to the interests of local small retailers in the country. CAIT has additionally requested the withdrawal of the advertisement.
In addition to Bachchan being fined Rs 10 lakh, CAIT sought that Flipkart be penalized for “false or misleading advertisement” in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Consumer Protection Act.
Flipkart did not respond to an email that was sent to them whereas Bachchan could not be contacted for comments. “As per the definition under Section 2(47), Flipkart, acting through Amitabh Bachchan (endorser), have misled the public regarding the price at which mobile phones are being made available by sellers/suppliers in the smartphone market of India. This has the effect of disparaging the goods, services or trade of another person,” CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said in the complaint.
In the previous week, CAIT criticized an advertisement featuring Bachchan, in which he endorsed Flipkart’s forthcoming Big Billion Day sale, emphasizing to consumers that mobile deals wouldn’t be available in offline retail stores.
