Fake branded bags seized from Worli mall

The Worli police raided three high-profile stores at a plush mall in central Mumbai and seized duplicate bags and accessories worth more than Rs70 lakh bearing the tag of Louis Vuitton. Investigators said that these products were then sold as original to the customers. Three people have been arrested in the case so far. According to an estimate, branded companies and the government (by way of tax evasion) in India lose hundreds of crores annually due to duplicate products sold in the market. Police records show that based on a tip-off from an anti-piracy agency, the raids were conducted on shop number 157, 159, and 163, which are located inside the mall. On inspection, investigators found duplicate handbags, trolley bags, luggage bags, wallets, cufflinks, belts, key chains, card holders, and sunglasses bearing Louis Vuitton’s tag. “The fake are so craftily made that it is difficult to distinguish them from the original. Only an experienced eye could have identified the difference,” said an officer. Officials said that they are in the process of investigating from where these products were brought to the store. “We are also trying to trace other boutiques and stores, which sell fake products of reputed brands,” added the officer. The accused have been charged under various sections of the Copyright Act, 1957. Officials said that similar raids have been conducted on other shops and malls in the past by the anti-piracy agencies with the help of the local police, and counterfeit products worth crores have been seized. It has been observed that though these shop owners shut their shops for some time, they re-start after a while, thus giving a setback to the efforts of curbing counterfeiting.