Massive Counterfeit Cigarette Scam Uncovered in Indira Market, Over ₹2 Lakh Worth Seized

A major counterfeit tobacco scandal was exposed in Durg's Indira Market when law enforcement seized more than 18,000 packs of fake Gold Flake Premium cigarettes. The counterfeit items, which bore packaging identical to the legitimate I.T.C. product, were valued at approximately ₹2.07 lakh.

The breakthrough came after an I.T.C. brand representative reported the illegal activity to the City Kotwali police. A swift investigation led to a raid on SSD Traders, where officers recovered two separate batches of counterfeit cigarettes—one containing 12,000 packs and another with 6,000 packs—along with the counterfeit packaging materials.

Two suspects, Vishal Jaswani and Nikhil Sihani, were taken into custody and charged under the Bombay Prohibition Act and the Copyright Act. Both have been placed under judicial remand while the police probe the origins of the fake cigarettes and the logistics of their distribution.

The incident underscores the vulnerability of consumers to counterfeit branded goods and calls for enhanced regulatory vigilance to protect public health and brand integrity.