MEERUT: Police on Wednesday busted a gang involved in printing fake NCERT books and arrested four of its alleged members in Brahmpuri, Meerut. They also recovered 3,470 books along with several four-wheelers from the spot.
Cops said they were acting on a tip-off. A police team led by additional superintendent of police/circle officer Vivek Chandra Yadav on Monday raided a house in the Suryapuram area of Brahmpuri and detained six persons.
The six claimed to be artisans who did binding work. They said that they worked on a daily basis but didn't know who was behind the operation. Cops let them go.
Later, a woman who was present during the raid told police that the books belonged to one Abhilash.
Thereafter, cops arrested Abhilash Rajpoot, a resident of Surya Puram, along with his alleged accomplices, Rahishuddin, Satyendra Singh, and Abil aka Adil. Rahishuddin and Satyendra are from Meerut, whereas Adil is from Hapur. The consignment of books was also recovered.
During interrogation, the accused revealed that one of them was involved in getting fake NCERT books printed, one in binding, one in packaging, and another in their supply. The books were sold across Meerut and its adjoining districts, said ASP Yadav.
A case was registered under sections 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), and 471 (using as genuine a forged document) of the IPC along with sections 63/65 of the Copyright Act. All four accused were produced before the court, which sent them to jail. ASP Yadav said that further investigation was on.
Cops also informed NCERT authorities about the recovery of the fake books in Meerut. A legal team of NCERT visited Meerut in this regard.
Police had also raided a godown in the Partapur area of Meerut over a year ago and recovered a huge consignment of fake NCERT books.
The books were printed in the Mohkampur area. NCERT authorities were also informed back then.
