Fake branded cosmetics worth Rs 10 lakh seized

A team of Patna police, assisted by Hindustan Unilever Limited ( HUL) officials, on Saturday conducted raids at two cosmetics godowns at Nageshwar Colony under Buddha Colony police station area here and seized fake cosmetics of the nationally reputed brands worth Rs 10 lakh. The godown owner, Deepak Kumar, has been arrested and an FIR lodged against him. The seized products included shampoos, body lotions, face packs, face creams, cohol and mascara, hand wash, make-up kits, hair colour, baby diapers, shaving kits, detergents, dental products and hair products. SSP, Patna, Manu Maharaj, said after the raids, “Police will take stringent action against persons involved in the business of fake cosmetics. Such cosmetics are dangerous for health, so we will ensure that a chargesheet is filed at the earliest. The police will also ensure that this business is stopped permanently.” Murtaja Hussain, an official of the HUL’s legal department, said, “Many shops in the heart of the city also openly retail such fake products. But sealing the godowns was important as their owners are the suppliers of such products in Patna market.” State drug controller Hemant Kumar Sinha said, “Most of the seized products are made in Delhi or Ludhiana but carry the labels of a number of foreign brands. Low-quality skincare products might damage the skin. The fake branded cosmetics have found their way not only to small outlets but also the supermarkets and malls.” Some products are even made locally. Hussain said, “Earlier also, we had helped police seize such fake cosmetics from various reputed stores in the city. But we failed to bust the factories where such products are made.” When the cosmetics company officials surveyed the local market, they were surprised to find the stores full with their products. But there was no matching demand from the company of the products from Patna market. “We sent the samples of various products to laboratories to check their genuineness. Only after getting reports from the laboratories that the products were fake, we helped the police seal the godowns and stores dealing in them,” said Hussain.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-28/patna/38877519_1_fake-cosmetics-products-patna-police