Bhadohi Factory Raid Uncovers Counterfeit Engine Oil Production; Two Held

Updated: Sunday, August 11, 2024, 0:24 [IST]

Authorities have apprehended the owner and manager of a factory producing counterfeit engine oil under a well-known brand name. The raid, directed by District Magistrate Vishal Singh, resulted in the seizure of a significant quantity of fake products. The operation occurred on Friday night at Petrolube Private Limited, located at Carpet City, Plot No 1994.

Counterfeit Oil Factory Raid in Bhadohi — Representative image

Seizure of Counterfeit Goods

During the raid, officials recovered counterfeit goods worth several lakhs of rupees. City Kotwali Station House Officer Ashwini Kumar Tripathi stated that a case has been registered against Vinay Kumar Singh, the owner, and Mukesh Kumar Gupta, the manager. The charges include sections 103, 104, 349, and 3/7 of the BNS, with further legal proceedings ongoing.

The raid was prompted by a complaint from Sunil Kumar, a manager at Castrol India Limited's Leseran Network Limited in New Delhi. Supply Inspector Sangeeta Yadav mentioned that Kumar participated in the joint raid alongside the supply department and police. The operation uncovered several large drums containing adulterated diesel and numerous containers.

Details of the Raid

The raid lasted from late evening until 10 pm on Friday. Officials found 700 packed cans and 360 litres of fake lubricant oil with counterfeit labels resembling those of Castrol India. According to Yadav, 25 employees were present in the factory during the raid. The suspects admitted to distributing counterfeit oil on a large scale under the Castrol India Limited brand name.

Sunil Kumar from Castrol India Limited estimated that the seized counterfeit products are worth several lakhs. He added that the fake oil was being distributed across Purvanchal and other regions. This discovery highlights the extensive reach of the counterfeit operation.

The authorities' swift action has disrupted a significant source of counterfeit engine oil production. The ongoing legal proceedings will determine the consequences for those involved in this illegal activity.