FIR Filed Against Blinkit for Alleged Sale of Illegal Button Knives

FIR Filed Against Blinkit for Alleged Sale of Illegal Button Knives

A case has been registered against Blinkit, an online grocery platform, for allegedly selling button knives or button lock knives that exceed the permissible size under law. The Delhi Police filed a First Information Report (FIR) after accused persons in two separate murder cases in West Delhi reportedly confessed to purchasing the knives through the app.

During the investigation, police found that the weapons used in both murders had been bought via Blinkit. To verify the claim, officers posed as customers and ordered the same knife from the platform.

As per government regulations under the Arms Act, 1959, only knives with blades measuring up to 7.62 cm in length and 1.72 cm in width can be sold. Any knife exceeding these dimensions violates the law and constitutes a criminal offence. The knife procured by police reportedly measured 8 cm in length and 2.5 cm in width, surpassing the legal limit.

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Following this, police conducted raids at several Blinkit dark stores across Delhi and seized over 55 such knives, allegedly priced at ₹699 each.

Platform Earlier Faced Scrutiny Over Delivery Timelines

The development comes weeks after Blinkit faced criticism over its 10-minute delivery promise, which had sparked debate about delivery partner safety.

In December, the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) and the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) called for protests demanding better pay, social security benefits, and the removal of arbitrary time-based delivery targets.

In January, Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met representatives of major aggregators, including Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, and Zepto, urging them to prioritise delivery partner safety over aggressive timelines.

Subsequently, Blinkit revised its tagline from “10,000 plus products delivered in 10 minutes” to “30,000 plus products delivered at your doorstep,” according to government sources.

Further investigation into the knife sales case is underway.