New Delhi, Nov. 13 -- The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on ride-hailing platform Ola for misleading consumers through its pre-ride tipping feature, which suggested that paying an additional amount could improve their chances of securing a ride faster.

According to a release issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution on Friday, the authority directed ANI Technologies Private Limited, which operates Ola, to immediately discontinue the practice, holding it to be an unfair trade practice and a dark pattern.

The order was passed by the CCPA, headed by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Anupam Mishra, following an examination of the platform's pre-ri...