Ahmedabad: The special operations group (SOG) of the city crime branch has arrested a 32-year-old trader for allegedly storing and selling duplicate electric wires and related packaging material of multiple brands, officials said on Tuesday. Goods worth Rs 16.6 lakh were seized during the action.Acting on specific inputs received through an investigation officer associated with an intellectual property rights protection firm and an authorised representative of a cable manufacturer, the SOG conducted a raid at a residential premises in Odhav. The premises, located in Adinathnagar locality, was found to be used for storing counterfeit electrical goods.During the search, officials recovered large quantities of duplicate wires of different specifications, including 1 sq mm, 1.5 sq mm and 2.5 sq mm bundles. In addition, packaging materials such as printed cardboard boxes, hologram labels, stickers and plastic bags resembling those of established brands were also seized. Network cable boxes of another brand were also found at the site.Police said the accused, identified as Vikram Purohit, stocked the materials for distribution in the local market under the guise of genuine branded products. The total value of the seized items, including duplicate wires and packaging material, is estimated at Rs 16.6 lakh. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Copyright Act, 1957, at the DCB police station.
