Delhi Police Uncover Major NCERT Textbook Piracy Operation, Arrest Warehouse Owner
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, March 13 (NationPress) – The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police has successfully dismantled a piracy ring involving NCERT textbooks, apprehending a warehouse owner during a raid in north Delhi, where they confiscated over 5,000 counterfeit books. Authorities reported this development on Friday.
Following a confidential tip-off, the Anti-Robbery and Snatching Cell (ARSC) executed a raid at a warehouse situated in Shahbad Daulatpur village, leading to the recovery of 5,011 pirated NCERT textbooks intended for students from Class I to Class XII.
The suspect, identified as Arvind Kumar, a local resident, was taken into custody at the scene. The seized books included editions in both English and Hindi.
According to police reports, the Crime Branch had been investigating a network allegedly involved in the manufacturing and distribution of pirated NCERT textbooks throughout Delhi and the National Capital Region.
On March 12, law enforcement received precise information indicating that a significant stock of counterfeit NCERT books was being stored in a warehouse in Shahbad Daulatpur and was slated for distribution.
A specialized team, which included Sub-Inspector Sandeep Sandhu, Assistant Sub-Inspector Prempal Singh, and Head Constables Anuj Sirohi, Abhinav, Naveen, and Indrajeet, was assembled under the leadership of Inspectors Mangesh Tyagi and Robin Tyagi, and overseen by ACP Sanjay Kumar Nagpal.
During the operation, officials discovered a substantial quantity of NCERT textbooks housed within the warehouse. Representatives from the National Council of Educational Research and Training were summoned to verify that the books were indeed pirated.
Following the confirmation, the counterfeit textbooks of various grades were seized, and the warehouse owner was arrested.
A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, as well as provisions of the Copyright Act and the Trademark Act, at the Crime Branch police station. Investigations are ongoing to uncover additional individuals associated with the printing, storage, and distribution of the pirated textbooks.
Officials revealed that Arvind Kumar began selling pirated NCERT books in 2022 after failing to pass competitive exams.
Police records indicate that he was previously implicated in two similar cases in 2020 and 2025.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime-I) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav stated that further investigations are underway to trace the broader network involved in the publishing and distribution of pirated textbooks.