Five arrested for selling fake branded watches in Bengaluru; goods worth ₹25 lakh seized

Bengaluru : In a major crackdown on counterfeit goods, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) police have arrested five ಆರೋಪಿಗಳು for allegedly selling fake branded watches across the city. Officials said goods worth approximately ₹25 lakh were seized during coordinated raids at multiple locations.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Harish Kumar, Syed Jaisad Iqbal, Mohammed Habeeb Hussain, Khaleem Ulla and Abdul Rehman. According to police, the  accused were operating shops in areas such as RT Nagar, Ganganagar, and Chickpet, where they allegedly sold counterfeit watches under the guise of reputed Indian brands.

Acting on credible intelligence, the Economic Offences Wing of the CCB carried out raids on five shops suspected to be involved in the illegal trade. During the operation, police seized around 670 fake watches, which were being passed off as original branded products.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused were luring customers by offering the watches at significantly reduced “offer prices.” Customers were allegedly misled into believing that the products were genuine branded items, thereby facilitating large-scale cheating.

Officials said the racket had been running for some time and targeted unsuspecting buyers looking for discounted branded products. The counterfeit watches closely resembled original designs, making it difficult for common consumers to identify them as fake.

Police have registered a case under relevant sections related to cheating and trademark violations. Further investigation is underway to determine the source of the counterfeit products and whether a larger network is involved in manufacturing and distributing such items.

Authorities have urged consumers to be cautious while purchasing branded goods at unusually low prices and to verify authenticity through authorised dealers.

The crackdown highlights the growing concern over counterfeit goods in urban markets and the need for stricter enforcement to protect both consumers and legitimate businesses.