Terms & Conditions

Effective Date: 27 June 2026  |  Last Updated: 27 September 2026  |  Version: 2.3

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your access to and use of vilkanundo.com and the Vilkanundo mobile application for Android and iOS (together, the "Platform"), operated by Domoimate (trading as "Vilkanundo"), registered office at Ekp Arcade, Ekkapramba, near Ozhukur Road, 673641, Kerala, India ("Vilkanundo", "we", "us", "our").

BY CREATING AN ACCOUNT, YOU CONFIRM THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS AND OUR PRIVACY POLICY. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE, YOU MUST NOT CREATE AN ACCOUNT OR USE THE PLATFORM.

Account creation is only permitted after you affirmatively accept these Terms and the Privacy Policy via the mandatory consent checkbox presented at sign-up (website email, website OAuth, website OTP name step, app email, app OTP name step) or the equivalent "By continuing you agree" notice shown above the app's social sign-in buttons. Your acceptance is recorded with a timestamp against your account (terms_accepted_at) and is retained for the life of the account plus a reasonable period thereafter for evidentiary purposes.

1. Definitions

• "Platform" — the vilkanundo.com website and the Vilkanundo mobile app, and associated services (support chat, notifications, email).
• "User" — any person who registers on or uses the Platform, whether as Buyer, Seller, or Business User.
• "Listing" / "Ad" — any advertisement, product, or item posted by a User for sale or exchange, including its title, description, price, photos, video, and location.
• "Buyer" / "Seller" — a User seeking to purchase or offering to sell an item.
• "Business User" — a User who registers, or is verified, as a business (shop, dealer, service provider) rather than an individual.
• "Content" — text, images, videos, descriptions, prices, chat messages, reviews, reports, bug submissions, and any other material a User submits through the Platform.
• "Wallet" / "Credits" — an in-Platform, non-monetary balance awarded to a User's account (e.g. through the Refer & Earn program) that may be redeemed for eligible Platform features such as Featured Ads.
• "Verified Identity" — a sign-in method (Google account, Apple ID, verified mobile number via OTP, or email/password) that Vilkanundo has confirmed belongs to the User operating a given account.
• "Aadhaar Verified" — a User whose Aadhaar identity has been successfully verified by either of the two methods we offer: the Government of India's DigiLocker (facilitated by SurePass Technologies) or UIDAI OTP through Cashfree's Verification Suite (see Privacy Policy §1.4). A blue tick appears on their profile and ads.
• "Featured Ad" — a paid promotional placement that increases a Listing's visibility on search results and the home page for a defined period.
• "Community Guidelines" — the behavioural rules set out in §12, incorporated by reference into these Terms.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and capable of entering into a legally binding contract under the Indian Contract Act, 1872 to register on the Platform. By registering, you confirm all information provided is accurate and complete.

The Platform is designed primarily for residents of India (with a focus on Kerala). If you access the Platform from outside India, you do so on your own initiative and are responsible for compliance with local law. We may, at our sole discretion, restrict access from certain jurisdictions.

We reserve the right to refuse, suspend, or terminate any account at our sole discretion, including where we reasonably believe the User is a minor, has misrepresented their identity, or has previously been suspended.

3. Nature of the Platform — Intermediary Only

Vilkanundo is an intermediary classifieds platform that allows Users to list items for sale and connect with other Users. We function solely as a venue — we are not a party to any transaction between Users.

We do not buy, sell, own, inspect, deliver, insure, warehouse, or take possession of any item listed. We do not process payments between Buyers and Sellers — the only payments we take are for optional Platform features that you buy from us, such as Featured Ads (§15). We operate as an intermediary under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and we perform the due diligence required of an intermediary by those Rules.

4. Accounts, Sign-In Methods and Identity

You may create or sign in to your account using any of the sign-in methods we support — Google sign-in, Apple ID (iOS), a verified mobile number (via one-time password, "OTP"), or an email address and password. Vilkanundo operates a one-account-per-identity policy: once a phone number, Google account, Apple ID, or email address is verified against a given account, signing in with that same Verified Identity will always resolve to that same account. We do not create duplicate accounts for the same Verified Identity.

You may add or link additional sign-in methods to your existing account from your Account settings (for example, adding a mobile number to a Google-created account, or adding an email and password to a phone-only account). Where the mobile number or email you attempt to link is already a Verified Identity on a different account, linking will be refused and, where the ownership of that number is ambiguous, you may be asked to confirm which existing account is yours before we proceed.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and for all activity that occurs through your Verified Identities, including any OTP sent to your mobile number. Notify us immediately at [email protected] if you suspect unauthorised access to your account. We will not be liable for losses arising from your failure to safeguard your credentials.

Impersonation is prohibited. You may not register or operate an account in another person's name, use another person's Aadhaar, or set up an account designed to look like an official Vilkanundo, government, or corporate account.

5. Mobile Application & Device Permissions

The Vilkanundo mobile app mirrors the functionality of the website and is subject to these Terms in full. Certain app features require you to grant device permissions:

• Camera and photo library — to attach photos/videos to a Listing, chat message, profile photo, or bug report;
• Microphone — only to record a voice message in chat when you choose to send one;
• Location — for distance-based sorting, "Near me" browsing, and location auto-fill when posting;
• Notifications — to receive push alerts about messages, offers, listing status, saved-search matches, and account activity;
• Contacts — not requested. We do not read your contact list.

You may decline or later revoke any such permission in your device settings; doing so may disable the corresponding feature but will not affect your ability to use the rest of the Platform.

6. Listings and User Content

Sellers are solely responsible for the accuracy, legality, and completeness of their Listings, including price, condition, description, images, video, category, and ownership/right to sell.

By posting a Listing or any Content, you grant Vilkanundo a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, sub-licensable licence to host, store, reproduce, modify (for size, format, and moderation), display, distribute, and translate that Content on the Platform and in Vilkanundo's own marketing (e.g., app previews, blog posts about Kerala's marketplace trends). This licence subsists for as long as the Content remains on the Platform plus a reasonable period thereafter for record-keeping (§8).

We reserve the right, but not the obligation, to review, edit (for typos, category, or format), refuse, or remove any Listing at our sole discretion, including through automated screening (see §16). We do not guarantee that any Listing is genuine, accurate, or lawful.

Listings marked as sold remain visible, labelled "Sold", until you delete them. Listings (including their photos and videos) and seller profiles are public and may appear in search engines and other online services; once you delete a Listing, how quickly those services drop it is outside our control.

Minimum photo requirement: every Listing must include at least one clear photo of the actual item. Stock photos, generic web images, screenshots of other listings, or photos that misrepresent the item are prohibited and may lead to rejection or removal.

7. AI-Assisted Features

The Platform uses artificial intelligence (via third-party providers such as Google Gemini) to assist you in specific, clearly-marked ways:

• AI Camera Draft — you can point your camera at an item and the app will draft a title, description, category, and suggested price for you to review and edit;
• Translation — Listings and chat messages can be translated between Malayalam and English on request;
• Content moderation — automated pre-screening flags potentially prohibited Listings for human review;
• Personalised notification copy — the text of some push notifications is generated to be more relevant to your saved searches and browsing history.

AI drafts and translations are suggestions only; you remain responsible for the final Content you post. AI is not used to make binding decisions about your account (e.g. bans) — those are made by a human moderator, informed by automated flags. See Privacy Policy §8 for how we handle data sent to AI providers.

8. Ad Deletion and Record Retention

If you delete a Listing, it will no longer be publicly visible. However, Vilkanundo retains a complete copy of the deleted Listing — including text, images, video, pricing, timestamps, chat messages associated with it, and the posting account's identifier — in its internal administrative records for a minimum of three (3) years from the date of deletion.

This retained copy is kept strictly for record-keeping, evidentiary, dispute-resolution, fraud-investigation, safety-review, and legal-compliance purposes. It is not republished, made publicly visible, sold, or shared with any third party except (a) with law enforcement, courts, or regulators as required or permitted by law, and (b) with our data-processing service providers under strict confidentiality.

9. Transactions Between Buyers and Sellers — No Liability

All negotiations, communications, payments, exchanges, and deliveries between a Buyer and a Seller occur directly between those Users, entirely outside the control of Vilkanundo. Vilkanundo does not act as an escrow, a payment processor, or a guarantor of any transaction.

Vilkanundo shall have no liability whatsoever for:

• Any financial loss, non-payment, fraud, overpayment, or payment dispute between Users;
• The quality, safety, legality, authenticity, fitness for purpose, or condition of any item listed or sold;
• Any pricing dispute, including overpricing, underpricing, or misrepresentation of price;
• Non-delivery, late delivery, damaged goods, or any failure of either party to honour the agreed transaction;
• Any loss, injury, or damage arising from an in-person meeting arranged between Users;
• The identity, conduct, solvency, or trustworthiness of any User, including Aadhaar-verified Users (verification confirms identity, not honesty);
• Tax obligations arising from a sale (both parties must comply with applicable Indian tax law).

Users are strongly advised to exercise independent judgment and due diligence — verify the identity of the other party, inspect items in person before payment, use safe, traceable payment methods (UPI reference, bank transfer with visible name), and meet in a public place where possible. We strongly discourage advance payment to unverified parties.

Any dispute arising out of a transaction must be resolved directly between the Buyer and Seller. Vilkanundo may, at its sole discretion and without obligation, assist by providing retained records under §8, but assumes no responsibility for mediating, resolving, or compensating for any such dispute.

10. Messaging Between Users

Any signed-in User may send messages. Aadhaar verification is no longer required to start or reply to a conversation. Verification remains required to post a Listing, and phone numbers remain visible only to Aadhaar Verified Users (see §4 and Privacy Policy §1.4).

Because unverified accounts are the route through which most spam, impersonation and advance-payment fraud reaches other Users, two safeguards apply in chat: a message containing a phone number is hidden from a recipient who is not Aadhaar Verified, and a verified User is shown a clear warning when the person they are chatting with is not verified. You are strongly advised never to share your phone number with, or send money in advance to, an unverified User.

The Platform's in-app chat lets Buyers and Sellers message each other about a Listing. You agree to use this feature only for genuine, lawful communication related to a Listing, and not to:

• Send spam, unsolicited advertising, or multi-level marketing pitches;
• Harass, threaten, insult, or stalk another User;
• Solicit sexual acts, share sexual content, or approach a User outside the context of the Listing they posted;
• Request or share Aadhaar numbers, OTPs, banking passwords, or other sensitive credentials;
• Impersonate Vilkanundo staff or claim to speak on Vilkanundo's behalf;
• Circulate links to phishing sites, malware, or unauthorised payment gateways;
• Discuss or coordinate the sale of items prohibited under §11.

Chat supports voice messages, which are subject to the same rules as written messages. The people you chat with can see when you have read their messages and when you were last active.

Vilkanundo is not a party to, and has no liability for, the content or outcome of any conversation between Users, but we may monitor, screen, or restrict messages for safety, fraud-prevention, and moderation purposes and may act on reports of abuse under §13. Users may block another User at any time, which prevents further messaging in both directions.

11. Prohibited Listings and Conduct

You may not list, sell, or use the Platform to facilitate the sale of:

• Items that are illegal under Indian law (narcotics, weapons, explosives, ammunition, tobacco to minors, wildlife products, ivory, counterfeit or stolen goods);
• Human body parts, blood, tissue, or organs;
• Live animals in violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, or endangered species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972;
• Prescription medicines, medical devices requiring authorisation, or unregistered supplements;
• Alcohol (unless you hold and display a valid licence);
• Firearms, air guns, imitation firearms, knives above legal length, or any weapon requiring a licence;
• Adult / sexual services, escort services, or pornographic material of any kind;
• Multi-level marketing schemes, chain-money schemes, cryptocurrency get-rich-quick schemes;
• Fake certificates, fake degrees, fake IDs, forged documents, or services to obtain them;
• Hacking tools, spyware, credential dumps, SIM boxes, IMEI-modifying devices;
• Items requiring a licence you do not hold (e.g., pesticides, telecom equipment);
• Content that is obscene, defamatory, fraudulent, hateful, or infringes third-party intellectual property rights;
• Any item or service prohibited under the IT Rules, 2021, DPDP Act, 2023, or applicable Indian law.

We reserve the right to remove such Listings immediately and suspend or terminate the associated account without notice, and to report unlawful activity to law enforcement authorities. Refunds of any paid Featured-Ad fees for removed Listings are at our sole discretion.

12. Community Guidelines

Beyond the legal restrictions above, we ask every User to uphold basic standards of decency so the Platform stays useful for everyone in Kerala:

• Be honest. Post real photos of the actual item, accurate condition, accurate location, and a realistic price.
• Be respectful. No abuse, no casteist / communal / sexist / homophobic / regional slurs, no personal attacks, no bullying. Malayalam and English profanity is filtered but the spirit of the rule matters more than any wordlist.
• Don't spam. One Listing per item. Do not repost the same item under different titles to game search results. Do not create multiple accounts to inflate reviews or referrals.
• Respect privacy. Do not photograph or post other people (including children) without their consent. Do not share another User's personal information (phone, address, workplace) in a public Listing or in chat.
• No harassment. If a Seller says the item is sold or the price is fixed, respect that. If a Buyer says they're not interested, don't keep messaging.
• Report, don't retaliate. If someone breaks the rules, use the Report button — do not retaliate publicly.
• Meet safely. Public places, daylight where possible, a friend with you for high-value items, cash counted before you hand over the goods.

13. Reporting and Grievance Redressal

If you suspect a Listing or User is fraudulent, misleading, unsafe, or in breach of these Terms, please report it immediately through the in-app Report button on the Listing or the User's profile, or by emailing [email protected]. If you encounter a technical problem, use the in-app / website "Report a bug" feature to submit a description (and, optionally, a screenshot).

In accordance with the Information Technology Rules, 2021, the Grievance Officer for Vilkanundo is:

• Email: [email protected]
• Address: Domoimate, Ekp Arcade, Ekkapramba, near Ozhukur Road, 673641, Kerala, India

Complaints will be acknowledged within 24 hours and resolved within 15 days, as required by law. Where a complaint concerns unlawful content (child sexual abuse material, intimate images shared without consent, terrorism-related content), we aim to remove such content within 24 hours of a valid report.

14. Business Accounts and Verification

Users who register as a business, or apply for manual business verification, must provide accurate business details and supporting information as requested (e.g., GSTIN, licence, shop address, ownership proof). A Verified Business badge indicates only that Vilkanundo has reviewed the submitted information at a point in time — it is not an endorsement, guarantee, or warranty of the business's products, services, or conduct. We may revoke a business verification at any time if the underlying information is found to be inaccurate, expired, or if the account violates these Terms.

Business Users must comply with all applicable Indian regulations for their sector (GST, weights & measures, consumer protection, sector-specific licensing) and are solely responsible for issuing invoices, honouring warranties, and handling returns.

15. Wallet, Referrals and Paid Features

15.1 Wallet Credits

Credits awarded through the Refer & Earn program or any other promotional mechanism are a goodwill benefit. They hold no cash value, are non-transferable between accounts, and cannot be withdrawn, exchanged for cash, or redeemed outside the Platform. Credits typically expire 12 months after being awarded unless otherwise stated.

We may adjust, withhold, or reverse credited amounts where we reasonably suspect referral abuse, self-referral, fake accounts, purchasing referrals from bot farms, or other manipulation of the program.

15.2 Featured Ads and Paid Placements

You may pay to feature one of your own active Listings, at the price and for the period shown before you pay. A Featured Ad receives greater visibility (such as priority placement in results and a "Featured" badge) for that period, which starts once payment is confirmed and runs continuously — it is not paused or transferable if the Listing is sold, hidden, or deleted. Buying again while an ad is featured extends the current period.

No guaranteed results. Featured Ads share priority placement with each other, so featuring does not guarantee a particular position, number of views, enquiries or a sale. A Featured Ad must still comply with these Terms.

Refunds. Featuring is a digital service that starts immediately, so it is generally non-refundable once active, except (a) where required by applicable law, (b) where you were charged but the Listing was not featured, or the Listing was refused or removed for reasons entirely on our side (for example a technical error), or (c) at our discretion in cases of demonstrable service failure. No refund is due where a Featured Ad is removed for breaching these Terms (§11). Purchases made in the mobile app are also subject to Google Play's or Apple's own refund policies (§15.3); if Google or Apple refunds a purchase, the featuring it paid for ends.

Pricing, availability, and terms for any paid feature may change at our discretion and will be shown to you clearly before you confirm a purchase. GST is included in the displayed price where applicable. Wallet Credits (§15.1) may be used towards a Featured Ad where offered.

15.3 Payment Providers

Payments for paid features are processed by third-party payment providers — a payment gateway on the website, and Google Play or the Apple App Store for purchases in the mobile app (under their own terms). Your statement may show the name of the merchant account through which we collect payments. Vilkanundo does not see or store your card number, CVV, UPI PIN, or bank credentials. Refunds for website payments, when made, are credited back through the original payment method or as Wallet Credits at our option; refunds for app purchases are handled by Google or Apple.

16. Automated Decision-Making and Human Review

We use automated systems to:

• Screen new Listings for prohibited content (§11), duplicate posting, and low-quality photos;
• Detect suspicious sign-in patterns (impossible-travel, rapid account creation, bot-like behaviour);
• Score referral events for likely fraud;
• Rank search results and personalise the home page based on your saved searches and browsing history.

No automated system alone will permanently ban your account, delete your Listings without a route to appeal, or refuse a refund for a paid feature. Automated flags are used to prioritise a human reviewer's queue. Where an automated action does affect you (e.g., a Listing held for review), you may request human review by replying to the notification email or contacting support.

17. Push Notifications and Email Communications

17.1 Transactional

By using the Platform, you agree to receive transactional communications essential to the service — sign-in OTPs, password resets, receipts for paid features, replies to your grievances, listing-status updates, chat message alerts (if enabled), and safety notices. You cannot opt out of these while retaining an active account.

17.2 Push Notifications

By enabling notifications on the Platform (in your browser or the mobile app), you consent to receive push notifications about activity relevant to your account — such as new messages, offers, listing status, saved-search matches, and service announcements. You may disable notifications at any time through your device or browser settings, or from within the Notifications settings screen in the app.

Saved-search alerts are limited in frequency, and further matches may be grouped into a summary. You can switch alerts off for any saved search at any time.

17.3 Marketing

Marketing emails, SMS or push messages (e.g., new features, seasonal campaigns) are sent only where you have not opted out. Every marketing message contains a clear way to unsubscribe. Opting out of marketing does not affect transactional messages.

18. Location Services

Certain features — such as "Near me" browsing, distance sorting, and location auto-fill when posting — use your device's location, which you provide voluntarily by granting location permission. Location accuracy depends on your device and network conditions and is not guaranteed. You can decline or withdraw location permission at any time from your device settings; doing so disables only the location-based features and does not delete listings you have already posted with a saved location.

19. Intellectual Property

All trademarks ("Vilkanundo", the logo, the Malayalam wordmark), logos, design elements, illustrations, icons, animation, source code, database schema, and Platform software are the property of Vilkanundo / Domoimate and are protected under the Copyright Act, 1957 and the Trade Marks Act, 1999. They may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, publicly displayed, reverse-engineered, or used to create derivative works without prior written consent.

You retain ownership of the Content you post, subject only to the licence granted to us in §6.

Copyright infringement claims: if you believe your copyrighted work has been posted on the Platform without permission, send a written notice to [email protected] including (a) identification of the work, (b) the URL of the infringing Listing, (c) your contact details, and (d) a good-faith statement that you are the rights holder or authorised to act. We will investigate promptly.

20. Accessibility

We aim to make the Platform usable by everyone. We support screen readers, adjustable text size, sufficient colour contrast, and keyboard-only navigation on the web. If you encounter an accessibility barrier, please email [email protected] describing the issue — we will investigate and, where possible, ship a fix in a future release.

21. Anti-Discrimination

Vilkanundo does not tolerate discrimination on the basis of caste, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, language, region of origin, or any other protected characteristic. Listings, chat, and User conduct that promote such discrimination will be removed and the accounts responsible may be suspended.

22. No Warranty

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ACCURACY OF CONTENT, OR UNINTERRUPTED/ERROR-FREE OPERATION.

23. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Vilkanundo, its directors, employees, and affiliates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary or punitive damages, or any loss of profit, revenue, business opportunity, data, or goodwill, arising from your use of the Platform or any transaction conducted through it, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Where liability cannot be excluded under applicable law, our total aggregate liability to you for all claims arising in any twelve-month period shall not exceed ₹1,000 or the aggregate fees (if any) you paid to Vilkanundo in the preceding three months, whichever is lower.

24. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Vilkanundo, its officers, employees, and affiliates from any claim, loss, liability, damage, or expense (including reasonable legal fees) arising from: (a) your Listings or Content; (b) your breach of these Terms, the Community Guidelines, or any applicable law; (c) any transaction or dispute with another User; (d) your infringement of any third party's rights; or (e) your use of the Platform contrary to instructions.

25. Account Suspension and Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account, with or without notice, if we reasonably believe you have (a) violated these Terms or the Community Guidelines, (b) engaged in fraudulent, harmful, or illegal activity, (c) abused the Wallet, referral, or Featured Ad program, (d) posed a risk to other Users or to the Platform's integrity, or (e) been the subject of repeated valid reports from other Users.

You may terminate your account at any time from the Account > Delete Account screen. Deletion is subject to our retention obligations in §8 and Privacy Policy §6.

26. Force Majeure

Vilkanundo shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to causes beyond its reasonable control, including natural disasters (floods, cyclones, earthquakes common in Kerala), internet or network outages, third-party provider outages (Cloudflare, hosting provider, SMS gateway), government action, riots, war, pandemics, or cyber-attacks.

27. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will (a) update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this document, (b) increment the version number, and (c) for material changes (new obligations, new liability caps, new categories of prohibited content), notify you via email, in-app banner, or push notification at least 7 days before the change takes effect. Continued use of the Platform after that period constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

28. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of India. Subject to the mandatory jurisdiction of Indian consumer forums where applicable, the courts at Kochi, Kerala shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms.

Before commencing legal action, we encourage you to contact our Grievance Officer (§13) so we can attempt a friendly resolution.

29. Assignment and No Partnership

You may not assign or transfer your rights under these Terms without our prior written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations to a successor entity (e.g., in a merger or acquisition) on notice to you. Nothing in these Terms creates any partnership, joint venture, employment, or agency relationship between you and Vilkanundo.

30. Severability and Waiver

If any provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. Our failure to enforce any right or provision does not waive that right or provision.

31. Language

These Terms are drafted in English, which is the governing version. We may provide a Malayalam translation for convenience — in the event of any conflict between the English and any translated version, the English version prevails.

32. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any Community Guidelines or feature-specific supplementary terms referenced herein, constitute the entire agreement between you and Vilkanundo regarding use of the Platform and supersede all prior agreements, proposals, and understandings on the same subject.

33. Contact Us

Support & grievances: [email protected]  |  Address: Domoimate, Ekp Arcade, Ekkapramba, near Ozhukur Road, 673641, Kerala, India