Ahmedabad’s Special Operations Group (SOG) has seized 6,900 packets of alleged counterfeit cigarettes valued at Rs 8.62 lakh from two shops in Maninagar and Kalupur, arresting a 66-year-old shopkeeper and beginning a search for the alleged supplier.
The raids were conducted after a complaint by Darshak Parekh, the 47-year-old owner of Parekh International Adult Services Company. According to the report, Parekh was authorised to act against products allegedly violating ITC Limited’s trademarks and copyright.
The first raid took place on October 9 at Mahesh General Stores in Sindhi Market, Maninagar. The SOG team, accompanied by the complainant, a company representative and two independent witnesses, allegedly recovered 3,550 cigarette packets. The stock was packed in 71 cartons containing 50 packets each and was valued at Rs 4.43 lakh, based on a reported price of Rs 125 per packet.
The shopkeeper was identified as Shobraj Jethanand Kevalani, a resident of Maninagar East. During questioning, he allegedly told investigators that additional stock was stored at Dev Traders in the Pan Market area of Kalupur, which the report identifies as another shop owned by him.
A subsequent search at Dev Traders resulted in the seizure of another 3,350 packets of the same brand, valued at Rs 4.18 lakh. The combined seizure from the two locations was therefore 6,900 packets worth Rs 8.62 lakh.
Investigators reportedly sent the product identification numbers printed on the cigarette packaging to Apurva Dave, ITC’s regional representative. According to the complaint, the numbers could not be verified through the company’s software, and the products were therefore alleged not to have been manufactured by ITC.
The case highlights the role of retail outlets and distribution links in the movement of suspected counterfeit consumer goods through dense commercial areas. In this instance, investigators said the stock had reached the retailer through a person identified as Nikunjbhai, who allegedly contacted Kevalani through WhatsApp and supplied cigarettes against orders.
The SOG has registered an offence under provisions of the Copyright Act, 1957. Police are continuing their investigation to trace the alleged supplier and establish how the stock entered the local retail network. The report does not state whether further arrests or seizures have been made.
