No ‘Freedom’ for Freedom 251? FIR Lodged Against Ringing Bells

Noida police registers FIR against Ringing Bells, says ‘did mislead public with its advertisement’.

BJP Senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi, Director of Ringing Bells, Mohit Goel and CEO, Dhaarna Goel during the launch of Smartphone-Ringing Bells Freedom 251 on 17 February. (Photo: PTI, altered by The Quint)

Trouble mounts for Ringing Bells, the ‘makers’ of Freedom 251. After an Enforcement Directorate probe, now an FIR has been registered against the company with the Noida Police. The complainant, in this case, is BJP leader Kirit Somaiya who alleges that the company misguided and cheated the public while advertising its smartphone. A case has been registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the IT Act.

After repeated complaints to the Noida police, finally an FIR was registered against the company. Police has assured me of a fair investigation. I have supplied all relevant documents with the complaint.

Kirit Somaiya, MP, BJP

We tried to reach out to the company for comments but no one was available. The FIR is against the CEO of Ringing Bells, Mohit Goel and his partner Ashok Chadda. The Noida police had already questioned Goel in this case.

Prima facie, it appears Ringing Bells did mislead people by projecting it to be a ‘Make in India’ project. But so far we have not found any person who has been cheated by the company. We registered an FIR because the complainant provided us with strong documentary evidence against the company.

Anup Singh, Circle Officer, Noida Police

The police has asked the company to provide further documents to prove their innocence.

Kirit Somaiya’s Allegations

Ringing Bells Director Mohit Goel with CEO Dhaarna Goel during the launch event holding Freedom 251. (Photo: PTI)

Misleading Advertisement:

• Ringing Bells used words like ‘Make in India’, ‘Digital India’ and ‘Skill India’ to make it look like a government project.
  
• The tricolour was used to misguide buyers.
  

Illegal Activities:

• Illegal marketing and advertisement of mobile phones without the permission of Bureau of India Standards (BIS) which is essential.
  
• The company took orders without proper licences.
  

No Infrastructure:

• Company has no warehouse, resources or capital to begin production of mobile phones.
  
• Tall claims made by the company without proper MoUs, import licences and sample phones.
  
• The company is newly registered, some directors don’t have DIN no.
  

Customers misled:

• Company misled public on social media without proper infrastructure or business plan.
  
• No details were provided by the company about the actual cost of Freedom 251.