Patna: Police in Bihar have uncovered a counterfeit sticker racket in Bihta that allegedly manufactured and supplied duplicate labels of well-known consumer brands, raising concerns about consumer safety and financial losses to companies.
Acting on a tip-off, officers raided premises in Srirampur Tola under the Bihta police station area, where they discovered a large cache of counterfeit stickers bearing the names of popular products, including mustard oil, Dalda, Fortune and Harpic. According to police, the fake labels were being affixed to packaged goods and sold in the market as genuine items.
Investigators said the quality of the forged stickers made it difficult to distinguish them from original labels at first glance, suggesting the operation may have been running for some time. A significant quantity of counterfeit material was seized during the raid.
Police also recovered three laptops and a printer believed to have been used to design and print the fake stickers. Technical experts are examining the digital devices to assess how many counterfeit labels were produced and to determine the scale of the network involved.
Those allegedly running the operation fled the scene before officers arrived. However, police said the suspects have been identified and efforts are under way to locate and arrest them. A first information report has been registered and further legal proceedings have been initiated.
Officials warned that counterfeit goods can pose serious risks to public health, particularly when consumers are unaware that products have been tampered with. They urged shoppers to examine packaging carefully and report any suspicious products or activity to the authorities.
