Ludhiana Police have successfully busted a manufacturing unit that was producing counterfeit sewing machines and branding them as products of the renowned 'Usha' firm. The raid took place in the Janta Nagar area of Ludhiana's Industrial Hub on Wednesday, led by Sub-Inspector Rajinder Pal of Division-6. A significant number of fake sewing machines were seized from the premises.
Complaint and Investigation
The operation was triggered by a complaint filed by Arun Mathur, special investigations manager at Lancer Network Limited, New Delhi. Mathur acted on a tip-off from his team member Rahul Sharma, who reported that Tejinder Singh and his son, Amritpal Singh, were manufacturing counterfeit sewing machines under the 'Usha' brand name at Impex Lane (No 23) in Janta Nagar. The father-son duo was allegedly using original labels of the brand to deceive customers and selling the counterfeit goods in the local market.
Seizure and Legal Action
Upon receiving the complaint, police swiftly raided the location. They seized 25 counterfeit sewing machines, all bearing the Usha company's label, along with an e-rickshaw used for transporting the goods. A case has been registered against both accused under Sections 63-65 of the Copyright Act, 1957.
Ongoing Investigation
The police are now conducting a thorough investigation to determine the duration of the counterfeit operation, identify the main buyers, and map the network's reach to other cities. Authorities are also looking into whether any other individuals or entities were involved in the production and distribution chain.
