Blinkit faces police action after knives sold on app used in two Delhi murders

Police verified the claim by posing as customers and successfully ordering similar prohibited knives. Subsequent raids at multiple Blinkit stores led to the recovery of over 50 button-operated knives.

Delhi Police have registered a case against online grocery platform Blinkit for allegedly selling prohibited knives through its app, with investigators linking similar weapons to two murder cases in West Delhi.

The action follows a crackdown by the West District police on online platforms allegedly selling illegal knives in violation of government notifications under the Arms Act.

Police said that during interrogation in two separate murder cases in Khyala, the accused disclosed that the knives used in the killings had been purchased through Blinkit. They said the disclosure prompted scrutiny of e-commerce platforms selling such weapons.

During checking of online platforms selling knives, police found that Blinkit was offering knives for sale. To verify the claim, officers placed an order for a Stanley knife through the Blinkit platform.

The knife delivered was found to be “gararidar” (manually opened and closed) and exceeded the maximum permitted blade dimensions. While the government notification allows a maximum blade length of 7.62 cm and width of 1.72 cm, the delivered knife measured 8 cm in length and 2.5 cm in width.

Police said the knife qualified as an illegal arm under the applicable notification. Accordingly, an FIR was registered at Police Station Khyala and investigation was initiated.