Police Crack Down on Inter-State Fake NCERT Textbook Network
In a significant breakthrough, police in Udham Singh Nagar have successfully busted an extensive inter-state racket involved in the illicit printing and distribution of counterfeit NCERT textbooks. Authorities have arrested a key accused individual while intensifying efforts to track down and apprehend other members of this sophisticated criminal network.
Arrest and Case Registration
The arrest of Nafis Khan, also known as Raju, a resident of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, was executed on Friday. This action followed the registration of a formal case on March 17 at the Rudrapur police station. The complaint was filed by Deepak Kumar, an assistant production officer at NCERT in New Delhi, leading to the lodging of an FIR under pertinent sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Copyright Act.
Operational Details of the Racket
Investigations have revealed that the gang operated by renting warehouses across various states to store the fake textbooks. Earlier consignments recovered from Bareilly were transported to a warehouse located in Rudrapur. The book covers were printed at a press in Mathura, assembled, and then moved to storage facilities in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, for broader distribution across multiple regions.
The accused were also responsible for managing logistics, including arranging vehicles to supply the counterfeit books to several districts, such as Meerut, and handling payments for warehouse rentals to facilitate their illegal activities.
Criminal History and Ongoing Investigation
Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Ganpati disclosed that the arrested accused, Nafis Khan, has a prior criminal record. Earlier cases have been registered against him under charges of cheating, forgery, and violations of the Copyright Act in Uttar Pradesh. Khan is scheduled to be produced before a court, and further investigation is actively underway to trace and arrest other members involved in this racket.
This crackdown highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat educational fraud and protect intellectual property rights, ensuring the integrity of academic materials for students nationwide.
