Ahmedabad’s Odhav police have raided a factory allegedly manufacturing counterfeit electrical wires under the names of well-known brands, arrested three people and seized material valued at Rs 40.62 lakh, according to a report by Gujarat Samachar. The factory was operating at Shed No. 11 in Dhaval Industrial Estate on Odhav Ring Road.
The police action followed information received by Vinodkumar Kapasia, a manager of a private limited company based in New Delhi. The information was passed to the Odhav police, who conducted the raid in the presence of panch witnesses.
Police found supervisor Chhotusingh Bhawanisingh Dahiya, 25, and workers Mahendrakumar Kuiaram Bhil, 19, and Gopalkumar Rataram Meghwal, 24, at the premises. The three were arrested. Police identified Uttamsingh Jabbarsingh Rajput, a resident of Nikol, as the alleged owner of the factory and declared him wanted, the report said.
According to the preliminary police inquiry, plastic granules were being melted and used to coat copper wire. The wires were then printed with the names of established companies. The seized material included 502 bundles of 75-metre wires, 137 bundles of 160-metre wires, a printing machine, a drive panel, weighing equipment and drums containing copper wire.
The report said the total value of the seized material was estimated at Rs 40.62 lakh. Police also found a wider production setup, including machinery for melting plastic granules, a 25-foot cooling trough, two AZTEC printing machines and a laboratory for testing cable wires.
The case has been registered under the Copyright Act, and police have sealed the factory while proceeding with the investigation. The seizure indicates that the operation was not limited to the relabelling of finished products but involved an organised manufacturing arrangement at an industrial premises.
A company representative told the police that the company does not sell wires in 75-metre bundles. The alleged production and proposed sale of such bundles under the company’s name is therefore part of the investigation into how the counterfeit products were intended to enter the market.
Electrical wires are a critical construction and building-safety component, making the quality and authenticity of such products significant for homes, shops, factories and public premises. The police action has so far established the seizure, arrests and alleged manufacturing process; the source report does not state whether the wires had already been distributed to customers or identify the wider retail network. The investigation will determine the extent of the alleged infringement and the involvement of the factory owner.
