The Hyderabad Commissioner’s Task Force (Central Zone), along with Abids Police, busted a major counterfeit Apple accessories racket on May 25, arresting four shop owners and seizing fake tech goods worth Rs1.01 crore.
The raids, conducted in Hyderabad’s busy Jagadish Market, uncovered imitation Apple products including AirPods, power banks, USB cables, and mobile covers, all carrying forged Apple branding. The accessories were being sold as genuine, duping hundreds of unsuspecting customers.
The arrested shop owners were identified as:
Vikram Singh of Shree Mataji Mobiles
Suresh Kumar Rajpurohit of R.G. Mobiles
Natharam Choudary of Rajaram Mobiles
Mohammad Sarfaraz of Sapna Mobiles
Police seized:
156 fake AirPods
16 power banks
295 chargers/adapters
61 USB cables
1,430 silicone mobile covers
430 counterfeit Apple stickers
“These were not low-effort knockoffs. The packaging and presentation were designed to convincingly mimic original Apple products,” said DCP Y.V.S. Sudheendra. “They intentionally deceived customers into paying full price for fake goods.”
Initial investigations revealed the products were sourced from unauthorized dealers in Mumbai—India’s largest hub for grey market electronics. These sellers used fake barcodes and Apple logos to enhance the illusion of authenticity.
Authorities suspect that Hyderabad is just one point in a larger distribution network spanning across major Indian cities. The arrested individuals have been charged under the Copyright Act and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The goods and accused have been handed over to Abids Police for further legal proceedings. Officials are now tracking down the Mumbai-based suppliers and investigating potential links to similar cases in other cities.
A 2023 CII report highlighted that India’s counterfeit electronics market causes Rs15,000 crore in losses to genuine manufacturers annually. This case, police say, underscores the growing challenge of fake tech in Indian retail.
“Strong supply chain monitoring and consumer awareness are key to curbing this menace,” warned a spokesperson for a mobile retail association.
