India's consumer watchdog, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), has imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh each on major e-commerce platforms including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho and Meta for illegally selling walkie-talkies in violation of telecom and consumer laws. Platforms like JioMart and some sellers have been fined Rs 1 lakh each.
The CCPA said it found over 16,900 non-compliant listings across platforms, with many products being sold without disclosing key details like radio frequency, licensing requirements or approval from the Department of Telecommunications. Many walkie-talkies were falsely advertised as “license-free” or “100% legal”, although many operated on the restricted ultra-high frequency (UHF) bands used by police and emergency services.
The watchdog rejected claims that e-commerce platforms were merely middlemen, saying they were responsible for ensuring compliance when selling regulated products. It warned that unauthorized radio devices pose serious risks to public safety and national security. While investigations into platforms such as IndiaMart and TradeIndia continue, it has directed the platforms to remove such listings, conduct regular audits and ensure clear disclosures.
