In a significant crackdown on the counterfeit electronics trade, Delhi Police has dismantled a sophisticated racket involved in manufacturing and selling fake premium smartphones from a shop in the bustling Karol Bagh market. The operation led to the arrest of four individuals and the seizure of a massive haul of counterfeit devices and components.
The Raid and Arrests
Acting on specific intelligence received on December 13, a team from the Special Staff conducted a raid in the intervening night of December 13 and 14. The target was a shop located in Beadonpura, Karol Bagh, which was suspected of purchasing stolen or used mobile phones and refurbishing them to be sold as new.
During the raid, the police apprehended four individuals red-handed while they were actively assembling mobile phones inside the premises. The accused were identified as Hakim, Mehtab Ahmad Ansari, Ravi Ahuja, and Rahul. A thorough search of the shop yielded a staggering recovery of incriminating evidence.
Massive Haul of Counterfeit Goods
The police recovered a total of 512 fake premium phones, along with a vast array of components used in their illegal assembly. The seized items included:
- 124 motherboards
- 138 mobile batteries
- 459 fake IMEI stickers marked "Made in Vietnam"
- A large quantity of mobile accessories
- Specialised tools used for assembling the devices
The accused failed to provide any satisfactory explanation for possessing these items, strengthening the case against them.
Modus Operandi of the Racket
According to DCP (Central) Nidhin Valsan, the mastermind of the operation was Hakim, the shop owner who has studied till the eighth standard. The group's method was systematic and designed to deceive customers seeking high-end phones at discounted rates.
The accused would illegally source spare parts from China. Using these parts, they would assemble replicas of high-demand premium smartphone models. A key part of the deception involved pasting counterfeit IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) stickers that falsely indicated the phones were "Made in Vietnam," lending an air of authenticity to the products.
These fake devices were then sold in the open market as genuine branded handsets. Unsuspecting customers were charged between Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000 per unit, leading to large-scale cheating and generating significant illegal profits for the racket.
A case has been registered against the accused, and investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of the network, including potential supply chains and customer lists.
