The CCPA has imposed a ₹ 10 lakh penalty on Meesho for listing and facilitating the sale of walkie-talkie devices without required regulatory approvals or proper disclosures
The final order, issued on December 2, 2025, found that Meesho allowed sale of walkie-talkies lacking mandatory licensing information, Equipment Type Approval from the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing, and frequency-use disclosures as required under Indian law.
Why the Sale Violated Rules
Under Indian regulations (including the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933), walkie-talkies and other wireless communication devices require prior regulatory clearance (Equipment Type Approval), and product listings must clearly state frequency-band, license requirements, and approval status.
The CCPA concluded that Meesho’s listings lacked all required disclosures — misleading consumers and violating the Consumer Protection Act, 2019
What the Order Requires Going Forward
- Meesho must list only those walkie-talkies (or other radio equipment) that fully comply with regulatory requirements.
- The platform must submit a compliance report to CCPA within 15 days.
- Meesho is directed to conduct periodic self-audits of its listings and publish audit certificates on its website for consumer awareness.
This action comes after a larger crackdown by CCPA in 2025, during which it issued notices to 13 e-commerce marketplaces over illegal listing and sale of walkie-talkies.
Implications — For Meesho, Other Platforms, and Consumers
- The fine and order make it clear that online marketplaces cannot claim to be “passive intermediaries” when it comes to regulated items — they must enforce compliance proactively.
- Other e-commerce platforms are likely to tighten listing controls, verify seller credentials, and demand regulatory approvals before listing wireless communication devices.
- For consumers, this increases transparency: buyers will be alerted if a device is legally usable or needs a licence, helping avoid inadvertent regulatory or security violations.
- More broadly, regulators appear serious about enforcing compliance in the digital marketplace, particularly for products with national security or public-safety implications.
