In a significant crackdown on the counterfeit electronics market, the Delhi Police have dismantled an illicit operation manufacturing and selling fake premium Samsung smartphones. The raid, conducted in the capital's bustling Karol Bagh area, led to the arrest of four individuals and the seizure of over 500 counterfeit handsets.
The Midnight Raid and Seizure
Acting on specific intelligence, a police team carried out a raid during the night of December 13 and 14 at a shop located in Beadonpura, Karol Bagh. This premises was being used as an assembly unit for the high-end fake phones. The police caught the accused red-handed during the operation.
The haul from the raid was substantial. Officers recovered a total of 512 counterfeit Samsung mobile phones. These included popular and expensive models like the Ultra, Fold, and Flip series. Alongside the finished devices, police confiscated 124 motherboards, 138 batteries, 459 fake IMEI stickers falsely marked "Made in Vietnam," and an array of specialized tools used for assembly.
Modus Operandi of the Racket
According to the investigation, the racket's operation was systematic. The alleged mastermind, Hakim (36), a resident of Ashok Vihar, would import mobile phone components such as motherboards, cameras, speakers, body frames, and back glass directly from China. Despite having studied only till Class 8, Hakim orchestrated the entire network.
With the assistance of his three accomplices—Mehtab Ahmad Ansari (36) from Brijpuri, Ravi Ahuja (36) from Rohini, and Rahul (33) from Karol Bagh—these parts were assembled into complete smartphones. The group specifically targeted assembling models that were in high demand in the market. To give the devices an air of authenticity, they pasted counterfeit IMEI stickers on them.
The finished fake phones were then sold in the open market at prices ranging between Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000 per unit, deceiving customers into believing they were purchasing genuine, brand-new Samsung devices.
Legal Action and Ongoing Probe
The police have registered a case under multiple sections of the law. This includes sections 42(3)(c) and 43(3)(f) of the Telecommunication Act and sections 318(4) (cheating) and 212 (furnishing false information) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at the Karol Bagh police station.
The investigation is far from over. Police officials stated that they are now working to trace the entire supply chain, identify the buyers who purchased these counterfeit phones, and uncover any wider network that might be linked to this illegal manufacture and sale. The probe aims to completely uproot this fraudulent operation and prevent further consumer cheating.
This bust highlights the ongoing challenge of counterfeit electronics in the Indian market and serves as a warning to consumers to purchase high-value gadgets only from authorized and reputable sellers.
