Maharashtra Cyber Crime Branch filed a case against multiple e-commerce websites for selling t-shirts featuring images of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim. The t-shirts available on Flipkart, AliExpress, TeeShopper, and Etsy have bred concerns that are associated with the promotion of the two men, one involved in multiple murders, including murdering Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, and the other infamous for planning terror attacks.

According to police sources, they were considered dangerous because such T-shirts glorify criminal lifestyles and may affect the young negatively. “This action reflects Maharashtra’s commitment to maintaining a safe digital environment and preventing content that could destabilize public peace,” stated the Maharashtra State Cyber Department.

It further highlighted the danger of such idols in criminal personalities. It said that these articles may pose a great risk to society by projecting a distorted image that may sway young minds adversely. As such, it warned that the department may tend to normalize crime and influence violence among impressionable youngsters by projecting the features of such persons as icons.

 An FIR was lodged against the sellers who had put up these t-shirts and also against the platforms hosting such listings. Filed under sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the case invokes charges of “wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot,” “promoting enmity between different groups,” and “public mischief.”  Provisions of the Information Technology Act were also cited in the charges.

The Maharashtra Cyber Department, further said that idolizing criminal elements on everyday merchandise can send a dangerous message, glorifying the unlawful actions of these individuals and encouraging admiration or imitation of their conduct.

Meesho is also facing backlash for selling T-shirts and merchandise sporting the photo of Lawrence Bishnoi, who is currently behind bars.

 

A user on X shared screenshots of listings from the platform with the concern that items like these are sold online.

The user wrote: “People are literally selling gangster merchandise on platforms like Meesho and Teeshopper. This is just one example of India’s latest online radicalization.” He pointed to how, even as police and agencies are actively working towards preventing the wrong engagement of youths in gang crime, some social media influencers are making money moolah by glamorizing gangsters.