In a significant regulatory action, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a hefty fine of ₹10 lakh on Fashnear Technologies Pvt. Ltd., the parent company of the popular e-commerce platform Meesho. The penalty was levied for permitting the sale of walkie-talkies without the mandatory government certification, a violation classified as misleading advertising and unfair trade practice.
Unpacking the Record Penalty
This fine marks the largest penalty the CCPA has issued against any e-commerce entity to date concerning the sale of unauthorized wireless communication devices. Earlier, other platforms including Reliance JioMart, Talk Pro, The MaskMan Toys, and Chimiya were fined a comparatively lower ₹1 lakh each for similar infractions. The substantial difference in Meesho's penalty is directly linked to the scale of its non-compliance.
A senior government official clarified that the basis for the tenfold larger fine was the volume of unverified sales. According to the CCPA's 16-page final order, a single seller on Meesho managed to sell 2,209 uncertified walkie-talkies. Furthermore, over a one-year period, 85 different sellers listed 1,896 non-toy walkie-talkie devices on the platform. The authority noted that Meesho failed to provide complete data on the total number of units sold from these numerous listings.
National Security and Consumer Risks
Experts emphasize that this issue transcends typical consumer grievances and ventures into the realm of national security. Uncensored wireless devices can interfere with licensed frequency bands used by critical services like aviation, defense, and emergency responders.
"The sale of uncertified walkie-talkies is not a small compliance issue—it creates real security vulnerabilities," stated Amit Singh, a security expert and associate professor at JNU's Special Centre for National Security Studies. "When e-commerce platforms allow such products without proper checks, they expose the country to potential communication breaches."
The CCPA investigation revealed that Meesho allowed listings without disclosing crucial information about licensing requirements, frequency specifications, or the mandatory Equipment Type Approval (ETA) certificate from the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing. This lack of transparency deprived consumers of the ability to make informed choices and exposed them to legal risks for possessing illegal communication equipment.
Platform Accountability and Ongoing Investigations
The CCPA rejected Meesho's defense that it was merely an intermediary, stating the platform "exercised substantial control" over its listings. The order highlighted that Meesho only took corrective action, such as delisting non-compliant products and strengthening monitoring mechanisms, after receiving the CCPA notice in May 2025. It also failed to take legal action against sellers who mis-categorized actual wireless devices under the 'Kids & Toys' section.
As part of the final directions, Meesho must now prominently display ETA or BIS certifications for any future listings of such products. The company has 15 days from the order date to file a compliance report. It remains unclear whether Meesho will pay the penalty or challenge the order before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) or a court.
This case originated from a broader May 2025 crackdown on several e-commerce platforms. Investigations into other major players like Amazon, Flipkart, OLX, Facebook (Meta), and IndiaMart are currently in various stages, with final orders awaited. This coordinated action sets a crucial benchmark for accountability in India's rapidly growing e-commerce sector, valued at $125 billion in 2024 and projected to reach $345 billion by 2030.
