Delhi Police has registered a case against instant delivery app Blinkit for allegedly selling illegal knives, an official said on Wednesday.
Police found 50 knives that were available for sale on the platform in violation of government notices regulating blade size and specifications.
In accordance with the rules, objects up to a maximum blade length of 7.62 cm and a width of 1.72 cm are allowed; anything more than that is illegal.
Blinkit did not immediately respond to the matter.
A case was registered on February 14 under the relevant sections of the Arms Act after the police found that some knives were being sold through an online platform that violated the prescribed specifications.
While checking online platforms, police found that the “Stanley Knife” can be ordered through a delivery app. As part of the verification process, police placed an order and examined the knife upon delivery.
It was found that the knife is manually foldable and exceeds the permitted dimensions. The knife measured 8cm in length and 2.5cm in width, making it an illegal weapon under the law, police said.
Subsequently, the case was registered and an investigation started. On 15 February, police teams raided several shops linked to the platform across Delhi and recovered 16 illegal knives.
On February 16, the police expanded the operation and searched a warehouse in Farrukhnagar, Gurugram, where another 32 illegal knives were recovered, taking the total to 50, the police added.
Police are investigating supply chains, sources of purchase and the role of those responsible for the storage and distribution of banned items. Notices may be issued to affected entities as part of an ongoing investigation.