Popular e-commerce platform Meesho has come under fire for listing T-shirts featuring the likeness of infamous gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, following social media backlash led by filmmaker Alishan Jafri. The products, which reportedly included T-shirts emblazoned with Bishnoi’s image and the word “gangster,” sparked public concern and criticism, with calls for a crackdown on merchandise glorifying criminal figures.
Jafri drew attention to the T-shirts on X (formerly Twitter), labeling it as “India’s latest online radicalisation.” The post included screenshots of the Lawrence Bishnoi-branded T-shirts available on Meesho, priced as low as ₹168. Other online marketplaces like Flipkart were also mentioned as carrying similar merchandise.
“People are literally selling gangster merchandise on platforms like Meesho and Teeshopper. This is just one example of India’s latest online radicalisation,” Jafri wrote. He also pointed out the troubling trend of such items being marketed to children, raising concerns over the impact of such content on impressionable youth.
“At a time when the police and NIA are struggling to stop youths from joining gang crime, social media influencers are making quick money by promoting gang content and glorifying gangsters,” he added.
Further underscoring the risks of normalizing gangster culture, Jafri cited a recent case involving a 15-year-old from Deoria who, influenced by gangster content, killed his friend. He also mentioned three young boys in Delhi who formed a group called the “Badnaam Gang” with intentions to commit violent acts for social media fame, aiming to “become dons.”
The backlash on X saw many calling out Meesho and other platforms for enabling such products. Comments included, “Shame on Meesho and similar websites. Shame,” and “So Meesho loves gangsters and promotes them on kids’ apparels. Wow!” Another user added, “Meesho should be de-platformed.”
Lawrence Bishnoi is a notorious figure linked to high-profile crimes, including the shooting of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala and issuing threats to actor Salman Khan. The gang also recently gained attention for its alleged involvement in the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique.
After facing criticism, Meesho promptly removed the items from its website. “We have taken immediate action to deactivate the products. Meesho remains committed to providing a safe and trusted shopping platform for all our users,” a spokesperson for Meesho told HT.com. Despite Meesho’s response, similar merchandise remains available on other e-commerce sites, such as Flipkart.
