Fake shoes get the boot

The police raided four shops on Friday acting on information given by a firm, Rose India Pvt Ltd.

8220;Rose India Pvt Ltd has an agreement with Adidas and Nike whereby it tracks copyright violations. It8217;s the company8217;s task to identify individuals or agencies selling duplicate goods using Nike or Adidas brands. The company representatives, upon finding them, gather evidence and initiate criminal proceedings. Kshitij Akluskar, the West Zone manager of Rose India complained that four shops in Kurla were selling fake Adidas and Nike shoes,8221; said Kurla Police Inspector Crime, B Jadhav.

A police team from Kurla accompanied Akluskar to the shops and raided them. All the shoes bearing the logos were confiscated. 8220;On a tip-off that the shopowners had more stock in some godown in Pydhonie, we reached the place, but found it closed,8221; Jadhav said.

The arrested were identified as Prakash Ahire, Taufiq R Shaikh, Mohammed Javed Sheikh, Mohammed Irfan Sheikh, Sheikh Mohammed and Malang Mehmood Sheikh. They have ben charged under the Copyright Act and section 420 of the Indian Penal Code relating to cheating.

8220;The value of the seized goods is approximately Rs 12.33 lakh. No doubt, the goods are fake. Rose India made the estimate of the fakes keeping cost of the originals in mind,8221; said Police sub-inspector R D Vichare, who is investigating the case.

The police will send samples of the seized lot to Adidas and Nike companies for verification. 8220;We will also move an application in court seeking permission to dispose of the seized goods,8221; said Jadhav.