In Brief
Star India and Airtel appealed against a National Commission order that found them guilty of unfair trade practice. The respondent consumer society alleged that while contest participation was advertised as free, the costs and prize money were funded through inflated SMS charges. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal and set aside the finding, holding that the complainant failed to substantiate its allegations through credible evidence. The critical survey report was never produced before the Court, and the existence of a formal services-cum-sponsorship agreement between the parties negated bare conjecture regarding hidden cost-sharing.
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