The Central Consumer Protection Authority-(CCPA) took suo motu action under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, against the widespread sale of unauthorized walkie-talkies on e-commerce platforms. These Personal Mobile Radios (PMRs) were operating on restricted frequency bands without proper government approvals, posing serious risks to consumers and national security.
The investigation uncovered over 16,970 non-compliant product listings across 13 major e-commerce platforms. These included household names like Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, JioMart, and Meta’s Facebook Marketplace, along with specialized platforms like IndiaMart, TradeIndia, and smaller sellers. Flipkart alone had sold 65,931 units with blank or illegal frequency specifications.
The platforms were selling devices without Equipment Type Approval (ETA), a mandatory certification. These walkie-talkies operated on frequencies outside license-exempt bands, violating the Indian Telegraph Act and Wireless Telegraphy Act. Worse still, sellers provided misleading product descriptions and failed to inform buyers about licensing requirements. This created risks of interference with critical communication networks and potential national security threats.
CCPA imposed ₹44 lakh in total penalties. Major platforms—Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, and Meta—were fined ₹10 lakh each. Smaller entities like Chimiya, JioMart, Talk Pro, and MaskMan Toys received ₹1 lakh penalties each. The platforms failed their basic duty to verify product compliance before allowing bulk listings.
Eight entities received final orders demanding immediate removal of illegal listings and ongoing compliance monitoring. All platforms must now disclose ETA certification before listing any telecom devices. This sets an important precedent for digital marketplace accountability and strengthens consumer protection enforcement.
This action protects consumers from unknowingly purchasing illegal devices that could land them in legal trouble. It emphasizes the need for buyer awareness and highlights that regulatory oversight will extend to other telecom devices moving forward. The crackdown demonstrates strengthened coordination between consumer protection authorities and telecom regulators to safeguard public interest.