In a major crackdown against the manufacturing and distribution of counterfeit food-related products, the Jaipur Police Commissionerate has successfully busted a large-scale operation involved in printing fake packaging materials for renowned ghee brands. The operation, conducted in a warehouse located within the Jhotwara Industrial Area, led to the arrest of three individuals, including the primary mastermind behind the racket. The police have seized a substantial amount of ready-to-use packaging materials and sophisticated printing equipment used in the illegal trade.
Details of the Police Raid and Arrests
The action was carried out by a joint team comprising the Commissionerate Special Team (CST) and the Jhotwara Police Station personnel. Acting on specific intelligence regarding the illegal printing of packaging materials for famous ghee companies, the team raided the warehouse. Jaipur Police Commissioner Sachin Mittal confirmed that the operation resulted in the arrest of three key suspects. The arrested individuals have been identified as Anil Agarwal, a resident of Chaksu (Jaipur); Mohan Lal Sharma, also from Chaksu; and Yakub, who resides near the Neelgar Mosque in Jaipur.
Massive Seizure of Counterfeit Materials
During the raid, the police discovered an extensive setup for producing counterfeit packaging. The seized items include a staggering 61,600 empty mono cartons, 61,600 poly packs, and 61,600 barcode scanners, all designed to mimic popular ghee brands. In addition to the packaging materials, the police confiscated several machines used in the process, including one electric machine, one conveyor printer, one electric weighing scale, and one sewing machine. Plus, a car and a loading tempo used for the distribution of these illegal materials were also taken into police custody.
Verification by Saras Dairy Officials
To confirm the authenticity of the seized materials, the police summoned officials from Saras Dairy. Under the leadership of Jhotwara Station House Officer (SHO) Raisal Singh, the special team facilitated a thorough inspection by the dairy experts, while the investigation by the Saras Dairy officials confirmed that the packaging materials were indeed counterfeit and designed to deceive consumers. Following a formal report submitted by Rajaram, an official from Saras Dairy, a case was registered at the Jhotwara Police Station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Copyright Act, and the Trademark Act.
Modus Operandi and Supply Chain
Preliminary investigations have revealed a well-organized network. The mastermind, Anil Agarwal, allegedly procured raw wrappers and empty mono cartons from an individual named Aman Jain, based in Niwai, Tonk. These materials were then brought to the Jaipur warehouse, where the suspects used printing machines to illegally imprint the branding, packaging dates, and hallmarks of famous ghee companies, while these counterfeit packages were then supplied to small-scale traders who used them to pack fake ghee. The investigation has also brought to light the names of Pramod Agarwal and Shyam Sundar Rathore, who are suspected to be involved in the actual manufacturing of the fake ghee. The suspects used various routes and vehicles to supply the materials and reportedly took orders using specific code words to evade detection.