Mumbai Police Dismantles Counterfeit Mobile Accessories Racket

In a significant operation, Mumbai Police have successfully dismantled a counterfeit mobile accessories racket in Ghatkopar, seizing fake products worth Rs 16.33 lakh. Six shopkeepers are facing legal action for their involvement in selling counterfeit items disguised as genuine Apple products. The police, aided by company representatives, executed simultaneous raids and recovered a variety of fake accessories. Investigations revealed that the accused were illegally using Apple's branding to mislead consumers. Authorities are committed to continuing efforts against counterfeit goods to safeguard consumer interests.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 20, 2026, 11:43 IST

Major Operation Against Counterfeit Goods

Mumbai, March 20: In a significant operation, the Mumbai Police have successfully dismantled a network involved in the distribution of counterfeit mobile accessories in the Ghatkopar region. Authorities executed raids that resulted in the confiscation of fake products valued at around Rs 16.33 lakh. Legal action has been initiated against six shopkeepers suspected of participating in this illicit operation.

Police officials stated that the crackdown was prompted by credible intelligence regarding the sale of counterfeit mobile accessories falsely marketed as Apple Inc. products. The raids took place in the Patel Chowk and Niloyog Mall areas of Ghatkopar East, where these items were reportedly sold openly.

A team from Apple assisted law enforcement during the operation. Acting promptly on the intelligence received, the police formulated a plan and established six distinct teams to carry out simultaneous raids at various locations, ensuring that the suspects could not escape.

During the operation, a substantial quantity of counterfeit merchandise was recovered from six different shops. The items seized included mobile chargers, adapters, USB cables, mobile covers, back panels, earphones, AirPods, and batteries. Officials noted that these products were crafted to closely imitate genuine Apple accessories and were marketed to consumers as authentic.

Initial investigations indicated that the suspects were unlawfully utilizing Apple’s logo and design without permission. The shopkeepers allegedly acquired these counterfeit items at low costs and sold them at inflated prices, misrepresenting them as genuine branded products.

Representatives from the company confirmed that all confiscated items were indeed counterfeit. They emphasized that recognizing such fake products necessitates specialized training, as the replicas are often designed to closely resemble the real items.

Following the operation, police have filed cases against all six individuals under Sections 51 and 63 of the Copyright Act. The seized items have been secured and sent for further analysis as part of the ongoing investigation.

Authorities mentioned that efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend additional individuals associated with the racket. They also reiterated their commitment to conducting similar operations against counterfeit goods throughout the city to protect consumer interests.