13 E-Commerce Platforms Fined ₹10 Lakh Each for Selling Illegal Walkie-Talkies
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has taken strict action against multiple e-commerce platforms for facilitating the sale of unauthorised walkie-talkies, imposing penalties on several companies for violations of consumer protection and telecom regulations.
Acting on its own initiative, the CCPA issued final orders against eight e-commerce entities and imposed cumulative penalties amounting to ₹44 lakh. The action followed the identification of nearly 17,000 non-compliant product listings across major online marketplaces.
According to the authority, 13 e-commerce platforms—including Meesho, Amazon, Flipkart, Facebook Marketplace (Meta Platforms Inc.), JioMart, Chimiya, Talk Pro, MaskMan Toys, IndiaMart, TradeIndia, Antriksh Technologies, Vardaanmart, and Krishna Mart—were found listing and selling walkie-talkies that did not comply with mandatory licensing and certification requirements.
Violations of Telecom and Consumer Laws
The investigation revealed that several platforms were enabling the sale of Personal Mobile Radios (PMRs) operating outside the license-exempt frequency band of 446.0–446.2 MHz. Many devices were sold without mandatory Equipment Type Approval (ETA) certification or without clear disclosure of licensing requirements, in violation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and telecom rules.
Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare stated that penalties of ₹10 lakh each were imposed on Meesho, Amazon, Flipkart, and Facebook Marketplace. Additional fines of ₹1 lakh each were levied on Chimiya, JioMart, Talk Pro, and MaskMan Toys for misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices. Some platforms have already paid the penalties, while payments from others are awaited.
Large-Scale Non-Compliance Identified
The CCPA found that Flipkart had sold tens of thousands of units where frequency details were either missing or fell outside permitted ranges. Amazon recorded thousands of sales with incomplete certification information, while Meesho saw large volumes of sales by individual sellers without proper disclosures.
Facebook Marketplace was found to have hosted hundreds of listings lacking frequency, licensing, or certification details. Despite removing listings after notices were issued, the platform was criticised for failing to implement effective preventive safeguards.
Intermediary Defence Rejected
Several platforms attempted to claim protection as intermediaries, arguing that the listings were posted by third-party sellers. The CCPA rejected this defence, stating that platforms facilitating the listing, promotion, and sale of regulated products cannot be treated as passive intermediaries.
The authority emphasised that intermediary protections apply only when platforms exercise effective due diligence and ensure statutory compliance.
New Guidelines and Security Concerns
To prevent future violations, the CCPA has notified new guidelines for the regulation of radio equipment sales on e-commerce platforms, in consultation with the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Home Affairs. These guidelines mandate verification of frequency compliance, ETA certification before listing, full disclosure of licensing requirements, and deployment of automated monitoring systems.
The authority also warned that unauthorised radio devices can interfere with critical communication networks used by law enforcement, emergency services, and disaster response agencies, posing serious risks to public safety and national security.
Several cases involving other platforms remain under investigation or at various stages of hearing.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Bharatiya News staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
