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The eBearing News
October 12, 2004
Indian Authorities Raid
Counterfeit Bearing Operations
copyright © 2004 eBearing Inc.
Government-backed police raids came down at no fewer than twelve counterfeit bearing
production and sales operations in India late last week.
Instigated by the Trade Mark section of the government's Economic Offences Wing, the raids focused
on counterfeit SKF brand bearings, the most commonly counterfeited brand in India.
Twelve raids were conducted, in and around New Delhi, focusing particularly on
open markets in Kashmiri Gate, Malka Ganj and GB Road. And while the raids were aimed primarily
at resellers, officers also seized counterfeiters and counterfeiting equipment.
Crime Branch officials later announced the operation resulted in 11 arrests, and seizure of more than 2,500 kg of
counterfeit SKF packaging materials, 50 SKF logo screen printing boards, and other equipment. By weight, the
quantities amounted to hundreds of thousands of counterfeit packages.
Those arrested were charged with a wide variety of copyright violations, in addition to now facing charges
of cheating customers through the sale of counterfeit product.
Rakesh Makhija, SKF India's Managing Director, said, "Spurious products are a deterrent to the economy at large.
SKF India, as an organization, is completely committed to safeguarding its customer's interests. We are working
closely with our authorized distributors and authorized stockists to ensure that customers receive
only genuine bearings."
In bearings, the seizure was one of India's largest. Newly-appointed DCP Prabhakar of the Economic Offense Wing
said, "We estimate that the duplicate ball bearings and packaging material seized would have fetched
nearly Rs 30 million (USD $655,000) in the market."
Counterfeiting is a widespread and desperate situation in India, studies putting counterfeits as high
as 40% of all products sold in the country, including 40% of all auto parts and pharmaceuticals sold.
The company said, "Every prominent brand in India in the FMCG, Consumer Durables, and auto spare parts
components faces the challenge of fighting counterfeit product. Counterfeit and spurious product hurts
customer interest. It is the need of the hour to educate and shift the mindset of buying of genuine
products only from authorized sources. To counter counterfeits, SKF India has been proactively
handling this situation through detailed customer awareness programs and holographic product packaging."
India's problem with counterfeit bearings goes back many years, with SKF at one point claiming
at least 30% of the SKF branded bearings sold in India were counterfeits.
This is the second series of organized raids by Indian police this year. Earlier, a series
of raids also netted counterfeit bearings and packaging material, and resulted in several arrests.
• eBearing article: Police in India stage counterfeit bearing raids
Mr. Prabhakar said more raids of similar scope are planned for other markets around India.
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- by Bruce A. Carr
from individual research,
tips and commercial sources.
Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.
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eBearing.com ... for everything that moves™
Entire contents Copyright 1999-2008, eBearing Inc. All rights reserved.
eBearing.com and "... for everything that moves" are registered
trademarks of eBearing Inc.
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eBearing.com ... for everything that moves™
Entire contents Copyright © 1999-2008, eBearing Inc. All rights reserved.
eBearing.com and "... for everything that moves" are registered trademarks of eBearing Inc.
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