Raids on Shops Selling Duplicate Clothes in Warangal
The court noted that the look and feel of the fakes including the packaging, colours and fonts were deceptively similar that it was impossible for an average shopper to tell them apart from the original products.
Warangal: A joint operation by the Delhi and Warangal police exposed shops selling low-quality duplicates under the names of famous national brands to innocent consumers. The raids were conducted under the orders of the Delhi High Court two days back after a lawsuit filed in the Delhi High Court (Case: CS (COMM)1422/2025) by Rajesh Khera, the proprietor of Jai Durga Garments.
The plaintiff alleged that their registered trademarks, including Jai Durga Garments and Kaviya Queen, were being illegally used on counterfeit leggings and clothing.
On December 24, Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora had issued an interim injunction against several defendants. Following the court’s direction, Local (Delhi) Commissioners and police teams raided high-profile shops on S.V.N Road and Devan Devdi including Mahaveer Textiles (Warangal and Hyderabad branches), Momaji Textiles and Mangaldeep Textile in Warangal. Large quantities of counterfeit goods were seized during the raids.
The court noted that the look and feel of the fakes including the packaging, colours and fonts were deceptively similar that it was impossible for an average shopper to tell them apart from the original products.
Investigations suggest that a syndicate of traders from other states has infiltrated local markets, supplying high volumes of duplicate branded clothes. These are sold to rural and middle-class families who believe they are getting a bargain on premium brands, only to find the quality vastly inferior.
Matwada circle inspector N. Karunakar said that the illegal trade is not just a brand dispute, but a big economic crime. Innocent people pay hard-earned money for products that lack durability and may use skin-irritating dyes. Legitimate local retailers, who pay proper taxes and sell genuine goods are unable to compete with the low prices of counterfeit stock. Much of this trade is suspected to take place through black channels, leading to significant loss in GST revenue for the government.
The police along with the concerned authorities are going to keep a continuous surveillance to put an end to such an illegal business, he assured.
The president of Warangal Cloth Merchants Association Namashivaya said that for over 60 years, they have been conducting their business earning the trust and respect of the people of Warangal. However, in the last four to five years, a group of traders from other states has infiltrated their market and are creating fake brands under the names of famous companies to cheat innocent customers.
While the raids targeted specific wholesalers, the issue is widespread across Warangal and neighbouring districts like Karimnagar and Rajanna Sircilla.
Meanwhile, following these revelations, there is a growing demand for the Warangal Police Commissionerate and the district administration to launch a sustained clean market campaign. Legal experts emphasise that under the Trade Marks Act and Copyright Act, authorities have the power to seize illegal goods and arrest those involved in forgery and cheating.
