New Delhi, April 21: In a major crackdown on consumer fraud, Delhi Police's Cyber Cell and Crime Branch (Southern Range) dismantled a sophisticated counterfeit goods racket operating out of Madhu Vihar, seizing spurious ENO antacid powder and fake Nescafe coffee products worth approximately Rs 20 lakh on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Four accused have been arrested, including the alleged mastermind who was tracked down to Dehradun using technical surveillance. The bust exposes a dangerous public health threat, as counterfeit medicines and food products were being distributed across wholesale and retail channels nationwide.

How the Counterfeit Operation Was Discovered

Acting on credible intelligence, a dedicated police team led by Inspector Manjeet Kumar of the Cyber Cell and Inspector Pardeep Kumar of the Southern Range conducted targeted raids under the supervision of ACP Swagat Patil Rajkumar and the overall guidance of DCP Rahool Alwal.

Raids at two premises in Madhu Vihar revealed fully operational illegal manufacturing units actively producing and packaging counterfeit products. The units were found running under the direct supervision of Uttam Das, assisted by labourer Papai Das Baragya, also known as Pankaj.

Both flats had been rented specifically for this illegal operation, which had been running for approximately two months prior to the raid — a short but dangerous window during which thousands of fake sachets had already entered the market.

Massive Seizure: What Police Found Inside

The scale of the operation was staggering. Police recovered three single-track filling machines with compressors, approximately 1,00,000 ENO sachets and 50,000 Nescafe sachets ready for immediate distribution.

Raw materials seized included nearly 500 kg of coffee powder and two drums of chemical acids — the latter raising serious alarm about the dangerous substances being used in products meant for human consumption. Packaging materials including foil rolls, stickers, cartons, and gunny bags were also confiscated.

Representatives from the pharmaceutical company that manufactures ENO confirmed the seized products were neither manufactured nor authorised by them, and the accused held no valid distribution licences. Similarly, the coffee company's representatives verified that the recovered Nescafe products were entirely counterfeit with no manufacturing approval whatsoever.

The Criminal Network: Four Arrested, Kingpin Nabbed in Dehradun

During interrogation, Uttam Das and Papai Das Baragya revealed that the entire operation was directed by Nitin Bhardwaj, 38, a resident of Geeta Colony, who managed both manufacturing and distribution logistics.

Bhardwaj had fled the city and was initially absconding, but was eventually apprehended from Sahastradhara in Dehradun through technical surveillance — a testament to the coordinated effort of the investigating team. He subsequently disclosed his links with Sanjay Bansal, 50, a resident of Tri Nagar, who was arrested near Kashmere Gate while allegedly attempting to escape Delhi.

The four arrested accused are: Uttam Das, 23 (Shastri Nagar), Papai Das Baragya, 19 (Shastri Nagar), Nitin Bhardwaj, 38 (Geeta Colony), and Sanjay Bansal, 50 (Tri Nagar).

Legal Action and Public Health Implications

An FIR No. 86/26 dated April 14, 2026 has been registered at the Crime Branch police station under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 318(4), 336, 340, 275, and 61(2), covering cheating, public health hazards, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.

The use of chemical acids in products marketed as antacid relief powders is particularly alarming from a public health standpoint. ENO is commonly consumed by millions of Indians — including children and the elderly — for everyday digestive complaints, making the adulteration especially dangerous.

This case is part of a broader and worrying pattern of counterfeit FMCG and pharmaceutical products flooding Indian markets. According to industry estimates, India's counterfeit goods market runs into thousands of crores annually, with health and personal care products among the most frequently faked categories. The fact that this racket operated undetected for two months from residential flats underscores significant gaps in supply chain monitoring by both brands and regulatory authorities.

Investigating Team and Next Steps

The operation was executed by a multi-unit team comprising SI Parvesh, WSI Shabnam Saify, ASI Kanwarpal, and several head constables from the Cyber Cell, along with ASI Ram Kishan and staff from the Southern Range.

Police have confirmed that further investigation is underway to map the full supply chain — including identifying distributors, retailers, and any additional financiers who may have backed the operation. Authorities are also working to determine how many counterfeit sachets may have already reached consumers across the country, and whether a product recall or public advisory will be issued.

As counterfeit product networks grow increasingly sophisticated — using rented residential spaces and legitimate-looking packaging to evade detection — this case signals the urgent need for stronger inter-agency coordination between police, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), and major consumer brands to protect public health at scale.