**Meesho Faces Record Fine for Selling Uncertified Walkie-Talkies**
India’s consumer protection authority has imposed its largest penalty to date on an e-commerce platform, Meesho, for the sale of uncertified walkie-talkies. This action follows previous fines of ₹1 lakh each against other platforms, including Reliance JioMart and Talk Pro, for similar violations. Investigations into major e-commerce sites like Amazon, Flipkart, OLX, and Facebook are ongoing, with final decisions pending.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued notices to these companies on May 9 regarding the unauthorized sale of walkie-talkies. Meesho, founded in December 2015 by Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal, is currently preparing for an IPO aimed at raising ₹5,421 crore.
The significant fine imposed on Meesho—ten times larger than those on other platforms—was attributed to the scale of unverified sales. The CCPA’s order revealed that a single seller on Meesho sold 2,209 walkie-talkies without disclosing essential information such as frequency specifications and licensing requirements. Additionally, 1,896 listings for non-toy walkie-talkies were identified from 85 sellers over the past year, yet Meesho failed to provide data on the total units sold.
According to the CCPA’s 16-page order, Meesho allowed the listing of wireless devices without proper disclosures until May 2025, exposing consumers to potential legal and safety risks. Despite repeated requests for information on all sellers, Meesho only provided details for one seller and did not submit the required documentation, including product URLs and technical certificates.
As of now, it remains uncertain whether Meesho will comply with the penalty or challenge the ruling in court. The case originated from a preliminary inquiry in May that scrutinized walkie-talkie listings across various e-commerce platforms, leading to the issuance of notices to several major marketplaces.
**FAQ**
**What led to Meesho’s record fine?**
Meesho was fined due to the sale of over 2,200 uncertified walkie-talkies by a single seller, lacking necessary disclosures and compliance with licensing regulations.
