Bhadohi's Counterfeit Cooking Oil Crackdown: A Closer Look

A significant amount of counterfeit cooking oil, posing as renowned brands, was confiscated in Bhadohi. Police arrested one individual linked to the scam following a raid initiated on a complaint from an intellectual property protection agency. Legal proceedings under the Copyright Act have been instituted.

In a major operation, police in Bhadohi have seized a large volume of counterfeit cooking oil masquerading as well-known brands. The operation led to the arrest of a 30-year-old man, highlighting ongoing issues with counterfeit consumer goods.

The police action followed a complaint filed by Manish Gupta of M/s Assure IP Protection Agency, based in Palghar, Maharashtra. According to Inspector Manish Dwivedi, the agency, authorized by Adani Wilmar Limited and M/s Patanjali Foods Limited, spearheaded the investigation into illegal production and sale activities. Acting on a tip received from Gupta, a joint raid was conducted by the agency and police at a Masudhi village residence.

The raid resulted in the arrest of Hanif Salmani and the seizure of numerous cooking oil cartons labeled under Fortune and Patanjali brands, as well as additional counterfeit materials, including a packing machine. The operation has led to the registration of a case against Salmani under Section 63 of the Copyright Act, with legal proceedings currently underway.

(With inputs from agencies.)