These e-commerce companies include Chimiya, JioMart, Talk Pro, Meesho, MaskMan Toys, TradeIndia, Antriksh Technologies, Vardaanmart, IndiaMart, Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook Marketplace), Flipkart, Krishna Mart and Amazon.
The CCPA found that the platforms facilitated the sale of personal mobile radios (PMRs) operating outside of the license-exempt frequency band and without equipment type approval (ETA) certification or proper disclosure of licensing requirements.
According to a PIB press release, these registrations concerned PMRs operating on restricted and sensitive radio frequencies without mandatory disclosure.
The PIB statement said several products operate in the ultra-high frequency (UHF) band – used by police, emergency services and disaster response networks – and are sometimes marketed as “unlicensed” or even sold as toys with communication ranges of up to 30 km.
Under current regulations, the license exemption only applies to PMRs operating strictly in the 446.0-446.2 MHz band. Rule 5 of the Rules for the Use of Low Power and Very Low Power Short Range Radio Frequency Devices, 2018, requires ETA approval before importation, sale or operation.
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Major violations on all platforms
Flipkart sold 65,931 units whose frequency range was either left blank or outside the exempted range. Another 42,275 units were sold at the indicated frequency. Amazon saw 2,602 units sold between January 2023 and May 2025, with 467 listings missing frequency or certification details.
Meesho recorded sales of 2,209 units from a single seller, with many listings not disclosing ETA certification or frequency specifications. JioMart sold 58 units over two years without clear licensing disclosure, while Facebook Marketplace saw 710 listings removed following CCPA intervention.
Talk Pro (Iconet Services Pvt Ltd) listed devices operating in the 400-1200 MHz UHF band while falsely claiming that they were “100% legal” and “license-free”. Chimiya offered walkie-talkies operating in the 400-470 MHz UHF band, outside the authorized spectrum, imported without the required approvals.
PIB’s detailed assessment reinforced the scale of violations, noting that several platforms omitted mandatory information such as frequency bands, licensing obligations and ETA/WPC status, which constitutes misleading advertisements and unfair commercial practices under the Consumer Protection Act of 2019.
Intermediate defense rejected
Several platforms have attempted to invoke intermediary status to disclaim any responsibility for third-party listings. The CCPA rejected this defense, finding that platforms facilitating the listing, hosting, discovery and promotion of regulated products cannot be treated as passive conduits.
“Protections for intermediaries are conditioned on the exercise of effective due diligence and do not extend to situations where platforms allow the listing or advertising of products without mandatory legal disclosures,” the authority said.
New compliance architecture
To strengthen accountability, the CCPA has notified Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Illegal Offering and Dealing of Radio Equipment, Including Walkie-Talkies, on E-Commerce Platforms, 2025, in consultation with the Ministry of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
These guidelines require frequency compliance verification, ETA certification, full disclosure of licensing requirements, prohibition of misleading claims, and deployment of automated monitoring and takedown mechanisms. Under the PIB, platforms must also prohibit claims such as “unlicensed” or “100% legal” unless verified.
The authority further ordered major platforms to undertake self-audits, publish audit certificates online and strengthen pre-registration compliance mechanisms to prevent the sale of radio equipment without legal permissions.
According to PTI, the CCPA has warned that unauthorized radio communications devices can interfere with critical national communications networks, including those used by law enforcement, disaster response authorities and emergency services. The PIB statement also highlighted the implications for national security and highlighted consumer confidence in online specifications for informed decision-making.
Five cases involving Antriksh Technologies, IndiaMart, Tradeindia.com, Vardaanmart and Krishna Mart are still under investigation or hearing.
