NEW DELHI, Feb. 24 -- India's top consumer watchdog has imposed a Rs.5 lakh penalty on Jaquar and Co. Pvt. Ltd for publishing misleading advertisements claiming a "rated life of 50,000 hrs" for its 9W and 12W LED bulbs.

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), in its order reviewed by Mint, said the company relied on test reports of a Chinese component manufacturer without substantiating the claim for the finished product sold in India.

It said Jaquar, a manufacturer of bathroom fittings, sanitaryware, wellness products and lighting solutions, prominently advertised the 50,000-hour lifespan on the product packaging and on e-commerce platforms, creating the impression that the assembled LED bulb would last that long under regula...