Meesho Faces FIR Over Alleged Sale Of Toxic ‘Sulfas’ Linked To Minor’s Death

Gurugram Police have registered a case against ecommerce platform Meesho and one of its sellers over the alleged sale of highly toxic ‘Sulfas’, the consumption of which allegedly led to the death of a minor.

The FIR was registered following a complaint by Anuradha Mehra, a resident of Gurugram’s Tikli village and the mother of the deceased, PTI reported. 

According to the complaint, her 17-year-old son, who had recently appeared for his Class 12 examinations, consumed the poisonous substance on April 28 and subsequently died. 

During the investigation, police found that the minor allegedly ordered ‘Sulfas’ through the Meesho app on April 11. His mother discovered the order while checking his mobile phone following his death, police said. 

Inc42 has reached out to Meesho for comments on the development. The story will be updated on receiving a response. 

According to the police, the invoice named Pankaj Bharatbhai Parmar, the operator of Surat-based Evergreen Agro and Gardening Mall, as the seller. 

Mehra subsequently approached a court, alleging that regulations governing the sale of the substance had been violated and that her son died after consuming it. 

On the court’s direction, an FIR was registered at the Badshahpur police station on August 19 under Sections 106 and 286 of the BNS, according to a Times of India report. The provisions pertain to causing death by negligence and negligent conduct involving poisonous substances, respectively. 

“An FIR has been registered and an investigation launched into the matter. Police are now investigating the online sale of Sulfas, the ordering process, and the role of the concerned seller,” PTI quoted investigating officer ASI Sanjeev Kumar as saying. 

“Meesho and firm representatives will be questioned soon and action will be taken as per the law after verifying the facts,” he added.

Police had earlier initiated inquest proceedings under Section 194 of the BNSS after the minor’s father filed a report following his death.

The minor’s viscera and blood samples were sent to the forensic science laboratory in Bhondsi, and the reports are awaited, police said. No arrests have been made so far.

This is not the first time Meesho has come under the authorities’ radar over products sold on its platform. In 2022, the Maharashtra FDA filed an FIR against the ecommerce platform for allegedly selling MTP kits without prescriptions or pharmacy bills. 

The action followed a drug inspector posing as a customer and ordering an ‘Unwanted Kit’, containing mifepristone and misoprostol, from a Meesho seller.

Meesho also faced legal scrutiny in 2021 when an FIR was registered against its founders, Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal, over allegations that counterfeit Rolex watches and Gucci apparel were sold through the platform. 

Separately, the Delhi High Court sought the Centre’s response to a petition alleging that Meesho and other ecommerce platforms were not complying with certain product disclosure requirements.

The post Meesho Faces FIR Over Alleged Sale Of Toxic ‘Sulfas’ Linked To Minor’s Death appeared first on Inc42 Media.