Fake cottonseed oil cans seized in Ahmedabad, trader booked for trademark infringement

Ahmedabad City Crime Branch has booked a man for allegedly selling counterfeit Tirupati brand cottonseed oil after raiding a shop in Khokhra and seizing fake oil cans worth over Rs 61,000.

According to the FIR filed by Bhushan Mahendrabhai Shantilal Dani, a representative of NK Proteins Pvt Ltd, the company had authorised him to file complaints related to trademark violations. Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of the crime branch and local police raided a shop named Kohinoor Store near the Madrasi Mandir in Khokhra on Friday.

During the raid, police found 26 cans of duplicate Tirupati cottonseed oil with counterfeit labels that closely resembled the original company's branding. Officials also recovered 15 empty duplicate cans and a small quantity of unsealed oil containers. 

The shop owner, identified as Farooq Salimbhai alias Rajubhai Gafurbhai Syed (40), a resident of Jyoti Park Society in Maninagar, was found allegedly repackaging oil from other companies into old Tirupati cans purchased from scrap dealers. He then sold the repackaged oil at market rates, police said.

The seized goods, including the counterfeit cans, were valued at Rs 61,250. A panchnama was conducted, and the entire operation was recorded through videography and photography. Based on the complaint and initial investigation, Farooq has been booked under relevant sections related to cheating and trademark infringement. Further investigation is underway.