Delhi Police Uncover Illegal Knife Sales on Quick-Commerce Platform
In a significant crackdown, Delhi Police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) under the Arms Act after allegedly uncovering that a quick-commerce platform was involved in the online sale of illegal knives. This action follows two recent murder incidents in the Khyala area of west Delhi, where knives purchased through online platforms were reportedly used.
Investigation Triggered by Murder Cases
The case was initiated based on a complaint from a constable stationed at the Khyala police station. The constable highlighted that the murders in Khyala were allegedly committed using knives sourced from online platforms. In response, police authorities launched a thorough scrutiny of various e-commerce and quick-delivery services offering knives for sale.
During this investigation, it was discovered that a quick-commerce platform was selling prohibited knives online, according to a police officer involved in the case. Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Darade Sharad Bhaskar elaborated that, as part of a verification process, police placed an order for a knife through the platform Blinkit to assess compliance with legal standards.
Knife Found in Violation of Legal Specifications
The knife delivered to the police was examined and found to be 'gararidar', meaning it could be manually opened and closed. It exceeded the maximum permitted blade length of 7.62 cm and width of 1.72 cm, with measurements of 8 cm in length and 2.5 cm in width. DCP Bhaskar stated, "Hence, it was an illegal arm in violation of the government notification."
Upon further examination, the knife featured a steel blade and a black metal handle equipped with a steel strip mechanism. Pressing this strip allowed the blade to open and close, with a button mechanism between the blade and handle facilitating operation. The tax invoice listed the seller as the online platform, with an address in Tihar village, west Delhi.
Widespread Raids and Seizures
Based on these findings, a case was registered under Sections 25, 54, and 59 of the Arms Act. The investigation intensified on February 15, when police recovered 16 knives from various dark stores and platform-linked outlets across Delhi. The following day, raids continued, resulting in the recovery of 32 illegal knives from a warehouse of the platform located in Farrukhnagar, Gurugram, Haryana.
To date, a total of 50 knives have been seized in connection with this case. Police authorities have emphasized that further investigation is ongoing to identify individuals responsible for the procurement, storage, and sale of these prohibited weapons. A response has been sought from the platform involved, but details remain under scrutiny as the probe advances.
