Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and All India Mobile Retailers Association have condemned a Flipkart advertisement featuring Amitabh Bachchan for Big Billion Day sale. The offline retailers trade bodies have filed a complaint with the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs against the ad. The Bollywood actor is seen telling consumers that deals on mobiles won't be available offline at retail stores.
CAIT has termed the advertisement “misleading” and against the country's small retailers in its complaint. It has also sought withdrawal of the advertisement, according to a statement.
A penalty on Flipkart has been demanded by CAIT as per relevant provisions of the Consumer Protection Act for "false or misleading advertisement" and imposition of a Rs 10 lakh fine on Bachchan.
"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.
Further, he said as per rule 4 of the Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022, the advertisement by Flipkart "is misleading because it doesn't contain truthful and honest representation and is wholly incorrect, malicious, misleading and manipulative".
Last week, CAIT called out the advertisement with Bachchan promoting Flipkart's upcoming Big Billion Day sale and telling consumers that deals on mobiles won't be available offline at retail stores.
The Big Billion Days sale is slated to take place from October 8-15.
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