Mumbai: In a major crackdown on counterfeit goods, the Mumbai Police have seized counterfeit fake printer cartridges and accessories worth Rs 83.83 lakh from a shop in Chembur during a raid conducted on August 12.
Raid Conducted Following Complaint
The operation was carried out under the jurisdiction of the Tilak Nagar Police Station, following a complaint filed by E.I.P.R. India Pvt. Ltd., a firm that helps multinationals keep track of duplicates sold under their brand names.
Counterfeit Goods Linked to Major Brands
According to the police, the shop, located at Hanuman Chawl, Nagewadi on P. L. Lokhande Marg, was found to be storing large quantities of counterfeit printer ink, refill toners, outer packaging, MRP stickers, toner labels, holograms, and other raw materials, bearing the names of major brands like HP (Hewlett Packard), Epson, and Canon.
Acting on specific information provided by the E.I.P.R., the Tilak Nagar Police—under the guidance and permission of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 6—raided the premises at around 4 PM on August 12.
Shop Rented for Illegal Operations
The shop, officially owned by Bhimraj Eknath Ramraje, had been rented out for the past four months to a man named Narayan Karman Vaviya, 51, who allegedly used it for trading in counterfeit printer cartridges and materials. During interrogation, Vaviya admitted to running a fake product business from the premises.
Tempo Used for Transport Also Seized
Inside the shop, police recovered a large stock of fake printer inks, refill toners, outer boxes, MRP stickers, toner stickers, holograms, and other raw materials branded with HP, Epson, and Canon logos. During the operation, police also discovered a tempo (MH 02 FG 7394) parked outside the shop, which was also loaded with counterfeit goods.
The total value of the seized goods is estimated to be Rs 83,83,927. Police have also seized the tempo along with the fake products.
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Legal Action Initiated
The complaint was formally registered by Hambirrao Gyanu Sathe, 60, a senior investigation officer at E.I.P.R. India Pvt. Ltd. Following this, the police have registered a case under Sections 51 and 63 of the Copyright Act. Further investigation is currently underway.
