Fake NCERT textbook racket busted in Hazaribagh; FIRs against 3 shops
Synopsis
A fake NCERT textbook racket has been busted in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh, with FIRs registered against three bookshops under the Copyright Act. Counterfeit Class 9 books — missing official holograms and of substandard quality — were seized, and authorities suspect an organised network rather than mere resale of used books.
Key Takeaways
The Hazaribagh district administration registered FIRs against three bookshops — Sangam Book Depot , Gyan Bhandar-1 , and Gyan Bhandar-2 — under the Copyright Act, 1957 .
Raids were conducted on Friday on the directions of Deputy Commissioner Hemant Sati .
Counterfeit Class 9 NCERT books were found missing the official hologram , with substandard paper, printing, and binding.
Shop owners claimed they resold used student books; authorities suspect an organised fake textbook racket .
Parents have been advised to buy books only from authorised outlets and report suspicious activity.
The district administration in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh has busted an alleged fake NCERT textbook racket, registering First Information Reports (FIRs) against three bookshops under the Copyright Act, 1957, officials said on Sunday, 10 May. The action was triggered by repeated complaints about counterfeit Class 9 NCERT books being sold as genuine publications in the city.
The Three Shops Named
The bookshops against which FIRs have been registered are Sangam Book Depot, Gyan Bhandar-1, and Gyan Bhandar-2. Acting on the directions of Deputy Commissioner Hemant Sati, a district administration team conducted simultaneous raids at all three outlets on Friday. The raids were carried out in the presence of local residents and witnesses.
What the Raids Found
During the inspection, officials closely examined the NCERT books stocked at the three outlets. Several books were found to be missing the official hologram used to authenticate genuine NCERT publications. The quality of paper, printing, and binding was also found to be substandard, according to officials. Preliminary findings strongly suggest that the books were counterfeit, the administration said. The suspected fake books were subsequently seized.
Shop Owners' Claims and Administration's Response
During questioning, the shop owners claimed they purchased old NCERT books from students and resold them. However, the district administration believes the matter goes beyond the resale of used books and could be linked to an organised racket dealing in fake textbooks. The action has caused a stir among book traders across the city.
Advisory for Parents and Next Steps
The district administration has made it clear that irregularities or fraud in the name of education will not be tolerated. Parents have been advised to purchase books only from authorised and reliable outlets and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities. With FIRs now registered, the investigation is expected to widen as authorities probe whether the racket extends beyond these three shops.
Point of View
High-margin fraud in a market where millions of students depend on affordable course material. The absence of holograms is a tell, but the deeper question is how these books entered the supply chain in the first place. If shop owners genuinely sourced them from students, the fakes must have originated upstream — pointing to a printing-level operation that local FIRs alone will not dismantle. The real accountability test is whether investigators trace the supply chain to its source, or whether this ends as a three-shop crackdown that leaves the racket intact.
NationPress
10 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What fake NCERT textbook racket was busted in Hazaribagh?
The Hazaribagh district administration raided three bookshops and seized counterfeit Class 9 NCERT books that lacked official authentication holograms and were of substandard quality. FIRs were registered against the shops under the Copyright Act, 1957.
Which bookshops were named in the FIRs?
The three shops named are Sangam Book Depot, Gyan Bhandar-1, and Gyan Bhandar-2, all located in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.
How can you identify a fake NCERT book?
Genuine NCERT books carry an official hologram as an authentication mark. Counterfeit copies are typically missing this hologram and show substandard paper quality, printing, and binding compared to authentic editions.
What should parents do to avoid buying fake NCERT books?
The Hazaribagh district administration has advised parents to purchase books only from authorised and reliable outlets and to report any suspicious activity to local authorities.
What law were the Hazaribagh bookshop owners charged under?
FIRs were registered against the three shopkeepers under the Copyright Act, 1957, which governs intellectual property rights and penalises the reproduction and sale of counterfeit copyrighted material.
