Flipkart, Meesho Under Fire for Selling T-Shirts Glorifying Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi

Bengaluru-based e-commerce giants Flipkart and Meesho are facing backlash for offering T-shirts featuring images of notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The issue has sparked outrage not just for its insensitivity but also for the easy availability of these items for children, raising concerns over the glorification of criminal figures in mainstream online retail.

Journalist Alishan Jafri brought the issue to public attention, highlighting the broader problem of what he calls "India's online radicalisation." Sharing his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), Jafri posted a screenshot of one of these T-shirts, which was listed for sale on Meesho for as low as Rs 168. The shirt bears Bishnoi's image alongside slogans like "Gangster" and "Real Hero." Expressing his alarm, Jafri wrote, "People are literally selling gangster merchandise on platforms like Meesho and Teeshopper. This is just one example of India's latest online radicalisation."

Jafri also stressed the difficulty authorities face in deterring youth from joining criminal groups, especially as social media influencers capitalize on gang culture to make quick profits. His statement resonated widely, prompting a heated debate about the impact of glorifying criminals on younger audiences. A search on Flipkart revealed similar products at Rs 249, heavily discounted. The listings depict the gangster in bold poses, dressed in an orange T-shirt and black hoodie, with slogans like "The Gangster" and "Real Hero" displayed prominently.

Public reaction on social media was swift and critical. One user wrote, "Shame on Meesho and similar websites. Shame!" while another expressed disgust, pointing out, "And a kid also wearing his T-shirt. So wrong." Calls to action also poured in, with one comment urging, "Meesho should be de-platformed."

The controversy underscores a growing concern about the ethics of online merchandising and the responsibilities of platforms in curating content that is both family-friendly and socially responsible.

Bishnoi is a gangster who hogged national limelight after threating to kill Hindi actor Salman Khan for his role in the Black Buck hunting case. For Bishnoi, black buck is sacred. He had earlier claimed responsibility for shooting at actor-singer Gippy Grewal's home due to his alleged association with the Bajrani Bhaijaan actor and more recently he claimed the responsibility for killing NCP politician Baba Siddique.