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Just before the great festival of Diwali and Dhanteras, the Central Government has taken a very aggressive and strict stance regarding public safety and internal security across the country. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has taken major action in the serious matter of openly listing of dangerous explosive chemicals and firecrackers on e-commerce and B2B digital platforms like clothes, mobiles, electronics and grocery items. Following the strong intervention of CCPA, the apex regulator functioning under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, 3,940 illegal sellers and their listings have been removed from 7 major online marketplace platforms with immediate effect.
The open availability of destructive and regulated chemicals like Ammonium Nitrate, Gun Powder, PETN (Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate) and Picric Acid on the internet had alarmed the security agencies. Despite a strict ban on online sale of firecrackers and illegal explosives by the Supreme Court and various courts during the Diwali festive season, these platforms were allowing third-party sellers to display and trade such substances. CCPA has termed this act as a gross violation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and Consumer Protection (e-Commerce) Rules, 2020 and unfair trade practice.
According to official information released by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, CCPA has tightened this legal noose after a thorough investigation of the country’s well-known e-commerce, search engines and business-to-business (B2B) directory portals. The seven major digital platforms that came under the ambit of the authority’s action include IndiaMART, TradeIndia, Dial4Trade, Justdial, ExportersIndia, Sigma-Aldrich Chemicals Pvt Ltd and iBiochemicals.
Upon receiving the CCPA directive, all these platforms conducted a thorough internal review of their websites and mobile apps and delisted the listings of a total of 3,940 suspicious sellers. According to government data, the network of illegal sellers was most spread on Indiamart, from where 3,092 sellers alone were removed. Apart from this, listings of 421 sellers from ExportersIndia, 206 sellers from JustDial, 166 sellers from TradeIndia and 11 sellers from Dial4Trade were deleted. Sigma-Aldrich and iBiochemicals clarified that they do not list products from third-party sellers, but sell their own inventory, which is being investigated separately.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority has not only limited its action to removing the listing, but has also passed Final Penalty Orders against this careless attitude. The authority has so far imposed a total cash fine of ₹30 lakh in three separate cases.
In this, a fine of ₹ 10 lakh was imposed on Dial4Trade for providing illegal online listing and facility of ammonium nitrate. Dial4Trade had challenged this penalty order in the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), but the apex consumer commission completely rejected the company’s arguments and rejected its appeal on 9 October 2026. Additionally, a huge penalty of Rs 10 lakh each (total ₹20 lakh) has been imposed on ExportersIndia (Weblink.in Pvt Ltd) in two separate cases, which are related to providing online facility of Ammonium Nitrate, PETN and Picric Acid.
In India, under the Explosives Act, 1884, Explosives Rules, 2008 and Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012, very strict administrative control is imposed on the manufacture, storage, transportation and purchase and sale of any type of explosive or chemicals used in making explosives. Selling or buying even 1 gram of these without a valid license issued by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) and personal verification (KYC) of the buyer is a non-bailable offence.
Hazardous substances like ammonium nitrate and PETN are the same chemicals that have been used in terrorist attacks, IED blasts and illegal mining blasts. During Diwali, anti-social elements and illegal firecracker manufacturers try to procure raw materials in bulk through these portals without any valid license or safety standards. The availability of these chemicals with a simple search box on e-commerce platforms directly connected any unverified buyer to the seller, posing a direct threat to national security and the lives of the general public.
The authority has clarified that apart from the companies that have been fined, the investigation against other major platforms is still ongoing by the Director General (DG Investigation). Detailed investigation reports were submitted to Indiamart and Justdial and both the companies have filed their written explanations.
IndiaMart has legally challenged the CCPA notice in the Delhi High Court, where the case is pending hearing. At the same time, the final hearing before the CCPA in the case of Justdial has been scheduled for October 23, 2026. The regulator has made it clear that no e-commerce platform can escape from its primary responsibility under the guise of being an intermediary. Platforms will have to fine-tune their algorithms and AI filters to such an extent that no prohibited or dangerous material can be uploaded into the system.
CCPA has also appealed to all the citizens and conscious consumers of the country to remain alert. On the auspicious occasion of Diwali, if crackers, fireworks, gunpowder or any type of suspicious explosive chemical is seen being sold on any e-commerce website, social media page, WhatsApp group or delivery app, then citizens can immediately lodge a complaint.
Consumers Toll-free numbers of the National Consumer Helpline of the Government of India 1915 You can lodge your confidential complaint by calling directly or on NCH mobile app and consumer portal. Making digital platforms safe and responsible is a vital national duty for the safety of law enforcement agencies as well as every citizen.