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Blinkit CFO Vipin Kapooria steps down, Flipkart return likely
MUMBAI: Vipin Kapooria has resigned as chief financial officer of quick commerce firm Blinkit after just about a year in the role and is set to return to Flipkart, according to reports. His exit comes at a time when Flipkart is sharpening its leadership bench ahead of a much anticipated initial public offering.
Kapooria joined Blinkit in September 2024, stepping in as the company’s first full time CFO since Amit Sachdeva’s departure in 2022. His appointment was seen as a key move as Blinkit doubled down on scale, speed and financial discipline in India’s hyper competitive quick commerce race.
That race has only intensified. Blinkit is currently battling well funded rivals including Swiggy Instamart, Zepto, BigBasket, Flipkart Minutes and Amazon Now, all chasing the same promise of faster deliveries and deeper consumer loyalty.
Before his Blinkit stint, Kapooria spent several years at Flipkart, most recently as vice president for business finance, where he led financial strategy for high value categories such as mobiles, electronics and large appliances. His return to the Walmart owned e-commerce major signals continuity and financial muscle as the company prepares for life on the public markets.
Kapooria’s resume reads like a tour of India’s biggest consumer and technology businesses. Alongside two stints at Flipkart, he has held senior finance leadership roles at Oyo, Yum! Restaurants International, Whirlpool and Birlasoft, building a reputation as a steady hand in fast growing and complex businesses.
For Blinkit, the search for its next finance chief now begins amid fierce competition and thinning margins. For Flipkart, Kapooria’s homecoming adds another experienced operator to its IPO ready war room, according to reports.
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Maharashtra revokes Ola, Uber, Rapido bike taxi licences
Temporary e-bike taxi permits cancelled as firms fail to meet state rules
MUMBAI: Maharashtra’s roads are set to see fewer zipping two-wheelers after the state government pulled the plug on provisional licences granted to bike taxi giants Ola, Uber and Rapido. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced in the Legislative Council on Monday that temporary permissions would be revoked.
“These companies were given permission for just a month and were required to submit certain documents. Since they have not complied, their temporary licences are cancelled. This is to ensure illegal bikes do not operate on our roads,” Sarnaik said.
The move follows the Maharashtra E Bike Taxi Rules 2024, designed to generate employment for local youth and offer commuters a cheaper, greener ride option. The rules, approved in August 2024, allow electric bike taxis in cities with over one lakh residents.
Under the policy, only electric vehicles can ply as taxis, and operators had 30 days to fulfil licensing and compliance requirements. Yet, officials claim many continued operations without meeting these conditions. Sarnaik added that a large number of bike taxis currently running in Mumbai and the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region are illegal.
In a firm enforcement twist, the government has instructed authorities to focus on vehicle owners rather than riders when registering cases. Safety concerns, particularly for women passengers, and accident complaints have also been flagged by the transport department.
Since April 2024, Regional Transport Offices have taken action against 130 non-compliant bike taxis, collecting fines exceeding Rs 33 lakh. Authorities say further measures will follow to ensure services adhere to regulations before returning to city streets.
Maharashtra’s bike taxi saga has been a rollercoaster. Initially banned in January 2023 due to concerns over private vehicles ferrying passengers, the sector was later formalised through an electric bike framework in 2024. Provisional licences were granted in 2025, but the government now warns that any bike taxi operating on city roads without proper permits will be considered illegal.
Adding to the transport shake-up, the government has also halted the issuance of new auto rickshaw permits from March 9 to ease urban traffic pressures and safeguard livelihoods of existing drivers. A fresh standard operating procedure for future permits is set to go before the state cabinet soon.
Maharashtra commuters may have to find alternative rides as the state reins in its two-wheeled taxi revolution, leaving app-based bikers in a legal limbo.
