Notices have been issued to 13 e-commerce entities: Chimiya, JioMart, Talk Pro, Meesho, MaskMan Toys, TradeIndia, Antriksh Technologies, Vardaanmart, IndiaMart, Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook Marketplace), Flipkart, Krishna Mart and Amazon, after identifying over 16,970 non-compliant product listings across platforms.
The CCPA found that platforms facilitated the sale of personal mobile radios (PMRs) operating outside the license-exempt frequency band, without Equipment Type Approval (ETA) certification or without proper disclosure of licensing requirements.
The authority imposed fines of ₹10 lakh each on Meesho, Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook Marketplace), Flipkart and Amazon, and Rs ₹ lakh each to Chimiya, JioMart, Talk Pro and MaskMan Toys for violation of consumer rights, misleading advertising and unfair trade practices, Consumer Affairs Minister Nidhi Khare told PTI.
Meesho, Meta, Chimiya, JioMart and Talk Pro have paid their fines. Payment from the remaining platforms is awaited, she added.
Under existing regulations, the license exemption only applies to PMRs operating exclusively in the 446.0-446.2 MHz band. Rule 5 of the Short Range Low Power and Very Low Power Radio Frequency Devices Rules, 2018 requires manufacturers and sellers to obtain an ETA before importing, selling or using such devices.
On Flipkart, 65,931 units were sold with the frequency range left blank or outside the exempt range. An additional 42,275 copies were sold with the correct frequency stated. Amazon saw 2,602 sales between January 2023 and May 2025, with 467 product listings missing appropriate frequency or certification data.
Meesho recorded sales of 2,209 units by a single seller alone, with numerous listings not disclosing ETA certification or frequency specifications. JioMart sold 58 units in two years without clear disclosure of licensing requirements, while on Facebook Marketplace, 710 listings were removed after CCPA intervention.
In the case of Facebook Marketplace, the CCPA found that two-way radios were listed without disclosing licensing requirements, frequency specifications, or ETA/WPC certification.
Despite post-notice takedowns, the platform facilitated repeated listings of regulated devices without adequate preventive safeguards.
The authority considered that platforms should exercise due diligence commensurate with their size and technological capabilities, delisting 710 entries following intervention.
Talk Pro (Iconet Services Pvt Ltd) was found to be listing devices operating on UHF 400-1200 MHz, while falsely claiming they were “100 percent legal” and “license free”.
The platform also made misleading claims about its operational reach.
Chimiya offered walkie-talkies that operated in the UHF band of 400-470 MHz, outside the authorized spectrum, and were imported from abroad without mandatory approval.
Several platforms tried to invoke intermediary status to deny responsibility for third-party listings. The CCPA rejected this defense, ruling that platforms that facilitate the offering, hosting, discovery, and promotion of regulated products cannot be treated as passive channels.
“Intermediate protection is conditional on the exercise of effective due diligence and does not extend to situations where platforms allow products to be listed or advertised without mandatory regulatory disclosures,” the authority said.
To strengthen the accountability of platforms, the CCPA, in consultation with the Ministry of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Home Affairs, has published Guidelines for the Prevention and Regulation of Illegal Listing and Sale of Radio Equipment, Including Walkie-Talkies on E-commerce Platforms, 2025.
These require verification of frequency compliance, ETA certification prior to listing, full disclosure of licensing requirements, bans on misleading advertising, and the deployment of automated monitoring and takedown mechanisms.
The CCPA directed major e-commerce platforms to conduct self-audits to ensure that such violations through misleading listings do not occur, to publish audit certificates online, and to strengthen listing compliance mechanisms to ensure that no radio equipment requiring regulatory approval is listed without full compliance with the legislation.
The CCPA warned that unauthorized radio communications equipment could cause harmful interference to critical national communications networks, including those used by law enforcement, emergency response authorities and emergency services.
“Such interference could disrupt essential activities and compromise communications essential for public order and national security,” the authority said, adding that consumers rely heavily on online descriptions when shopping and that the sale of non-compliant devices exposes them to regulatory risks.
Five cases involving Antriksh Technologies, IndiaMart, Tradeindia.com, Vardaanmart and Krishna Mart are still at various stages of investigation or hearing.
Published – Jan 16, 2026 10:28 AM IST
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