In pics: Cheapest smartphone Freedom 251 rings up trouble

A look through photographs at the controversy created by the device.

A visitor outside the office of Ringing Bells, the company that makes Freedom 251, in Sector 63, in Noida. (Burhaan Kinu/ HT photo)

Freedom 251, the world's cheapest smartphone at price tag of ₹ 251, has created a buzz across India but not all the publicity has been good. It has been accused of stealing from Apple's iPhone, promising apps it didn't have and its business model questioned.

Income tax department on officials on Friday questioned employees of Ringing Bells, the Noida-based company that manufactures the phone. Here is a look at the buzz about the phone in pictures.

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People shout slogans against Ringing Bells, the maker of smartphone Freedom 251, outside the company's office in Sector 63, Noida on Friday. The phone generated buzz following full-page advertisements in national newspapers, with millions of prospective buyers rushing to book a device. The company's website crashed within a few minutes of its launch on Wednesday. (Burhaan Kinu/ HT photo)

People shout slogans against Ringing Bells, the maker of smartphone Freedom 251, outside the company's office in Sector 63, Noida on Friday. The phone generated buzz following full-page advertisements in national newspapers, with millions of prospective buyers rushing to book a device. The company's website crashed within a few minutes of its launch on Wednesday. (Burhaan Kinu/ HT photo)

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A notice outside Ringing Bells's office says Freedom 251 will be sold on its website, which however seemed to have crashed. (Burhaan Kinu/ HT photo)

A notice outside Ringing Bells's office says Freedom 251 will be sold on its website, which however seemed to have crashed. (Burhaan Kinu/ HT photo)

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A visitor to Ringing Bells's office shows a bill for Freedom 251. The company seems to be struggling with (Burhaan Kinu/ HT photo)

A visitor to Ringing Bells's office shows a bill for Freedom 251. The company seems to be struggling with (Burhaan Kinu/ HT photo)

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A visitor to Freedom Bells shows an electronic bill for the Freedom 251 smartphone. (Burhaan Kinu/ HT photo)

A visitor to Freedom Bells shows an electronic bill for the Freedom 251 smartphone. (Burhaan Kinu/ HT photo)

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A crowd outside Ringing Bells office on Thursday . People claimed that the phone numbers given in advertisements for booking Freedom 251 didn't work. (Burhaan Kinu/ HT photo)

A crowd outside Ringing Bells office on Thursday . People claimed that the phone numbers given in advertisements for booking Freedom 251 didn't work. (Burhaan Kinu/ HT photo)

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Visitors to Freedom Bells office on Thursday show newspaper ads for the cheapest smartphone. (Burhaan Kinu/ HT photo)

Visitors to Freedom Bells office on Thursday show newspaper ads for the cheapest smartphone. (Burhaan Kinu/ HT photo)

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Ringing Bells launched Freedom 251 at a much-publicised ceremony on Wednesday. (Saumya Khandelwal/ HT photo)

Ringing Bells launched Freedom 251 at a much-publicised ceremony on Wednesday. (Saumya Khandelwal/ HT photo)

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Freedom 251's launch was followed by scrutiny of how does the manufacturer make a profit out of it. (Saumya Khandelwal/ HT photo)

Freedom 251's launch was followed by scrutiny of how does the manufacturer make a profit out of it. (Saumya Khandelwal/ HT photo)