The Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) in Ahmedabad registered a case on Tuesday in connection with an alleged counterfeit bidi and cigarette racket. Simultaneously, the Special Operations Group (SOG) initiated a probe after seizing suspected fake tobacco products valued at Rs 3.57 lakh from the Juhapura area of the city.
Complaint and Raid Details
According to the complainant, a long-time representative of a bidi manufacturing company, his role involved identifying and reporting instances of counterfeit products in the market. Acting on prior intelligence, officials raided a residential premises in Juhapura earlier this month.
During the search, police recovered a large quantity of bidis and cigarettes of various brands stored in boxes and plastic bags, along with empty packaging materials. Investigators suspected the products were counterfeit as the occupants failed to produce valid purchase bills or supporting documents.
Discrepancies Found in Seized Goods
Representatives of multiple companies later inspected the seized goods and reportedly found major discrepancies in packaging, printing quality, tobacco content, and product size compared to genuine items. Variations in holograms and labels further strengthened suspicions that the goods were fake and illegally manufactured. Samples of the seized products have been sent for detailed verification.
The complaint stated that the accused were allegedly manufacturing and storing counterfeit tobacco products for sale as genuine brands, despite knowing the potential health risks posed to consumers.
Legal Action and Investigation
Based on preliminary findings, DCB police registered a complaint under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Copyright Act. Investigators are now trying to determine the scale of the racket and identify others who may be linked to the operation.
