Pirated NCERT books worth Rs 2.4 cr seized, 3 arrested
New Delhi, May 19 (PTI): The Delhi Police has busted a major piracy racket by seizing over 1.7 lakh pirated NCERT textbooks worth more than Rs 2.4 crore and arresting three persons, including a father-son duo, an official said on Monday.
The accused have been identified as Prashant Gupta (48) and his son Nishant Gupta (26), and Arvind Kumar.
"Prashant and Nishant had a shop where police found a large stock of pirated educational books being sold under the guise of genuine NCERT material. The racket was unearthed following a tip-off received by the police on May 16 regarding the sale of pirated NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) books from a shop on Mandoli Road," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Prashant Gautam said in a statement.
He further said the raid was conducted and officials from NCERT were also roped in to authenticate the materials.
During the raid at Anupam Sales, police found a large stock of pirated educational books being sold under the guise of genuine NCERT material. The shop was being operated by the father-son duo who were taken into custody, read the statement.
"Twenty-seven pirated Social Science textbooks for Class 12 were recovered from the shop. The books bore forged NCERT emblems and counterfeit signatures, making them appear authentic. On-site verification by NCERT confirmed the material was counterfeit and violated the Copyright Act," said the DCP.
During interrogation, the accused revealed that the counterfeit books were sourced from a warehouse in Hiranki near Alipur in Delhi.
Acting on this information, police raided the disclosed site and recovered approximately 1.7 lakh pirated books, valued at over Rs 2.4 crore.
The premises, owned by Arvind Kumar, had been rented and used for stocking the pirated books. An NCERT team at the site confirmed that the entire consignment violated copyright norms, the officer said.
During interrogation, Gupta admitted to having operated their shop for over two decades, with Nishant joining the business five years ago. Lured by easy profits, the duo began purchasing pirated books from suppliers.
"Based on the confession, a follow-up raid was conducted at a storage unit. An FIR under Section 318 (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant provisions of the Copyright Act was registered at MS Park Police Station. All accused are arrested and legal proceedings are underway," said the DCP.
Police are now expanding the scope of the investigation to trace the entire supply chain involved in the manufacture, distribution and sale of counterfeit NCERT books. This includes identifying illegal printing presses, transport intermediaries and possible collusion by wholesale distributors or local vendors.
Watch: Delhi Police busted a ₹2.4 crore NCERT book piracy racket, arresting father-son duo Prashant and Nishant Gupta. Over 1.7 lakh counterfeit textbooks were seized from their shops in Shahdara and Hiranki. The books violated copyright laws. Investigation continues to… pic.twitter.com/daMgYiZ223
— IANS (@ians_india) May 19, 2025
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National Herald case: Shivakumar to seek time next week to appear before Delhi police
New Delhi/Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said he will ask for time from Delhi police to appear before them next week, to provide required information as part of the probe into the National Herald case.
He said he will seek time after the ongoing winter session of Karnataka legislature ends on December 19. He will also ask the Delhi police to provide him the FIR copy.
Shivakumar, who is in the national capital, had earlier said that he will appear before the Delhi police on Monday. But, he postponed the plan in order to rush back to Karnataka to participate in the last rites of veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, scheduled later in the day in Davangere.
"I had to go (to appear before the Delhi police), but I have to go back urgently. I'm asking them for time, stating that I will come next week," Shivakumar told reporters in New Delhi.
"They (Delhi police) have not attached the FIR copy while issuing notice to me. I need FIR copy, because we had already given all the required replies to the ED. I don't know what the FIR says, I only read in papers. They have given notice, I will ask for a FIR copy. I will come next week after the Assembly session."
The Delhi Police had issued a notice to Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Congress chief, seeking financial and transactional details as part of its probe into the National Herald case.
The notice issued by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) states that Shivakumar is "supposed to be having vital information" pertaining to the National Herald case registered on October 3 this year, against top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
In the notice dated November 29, the EOW had asked Shivakumar to appear before it or provide the requested information by December 19 latest.
Investigators have sought details about his personal background, his association with the Congress party, and a complete break up of funds allegedly transferred by him or associated entities to Young Indian.
To a question on meeting AICC General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, amid the ongoing power tussle between him and CM Siddaramaiah over the Chief Minister post, Shivakumar said when he comes to Delhi, he usually meets every one.
"Whether it is Surjewala or Kharge (AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge) or Venugopal, I will meet everyone. During lunch yesterday I met Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. I have met everyone. What's wrong?" he asked.
Shivakumar was in Delhi to take part in Congress' "Vote Chori" rally on Sunday, and had also participated in the lunch organised by the party for its leaders.
Responding to a question, whether any meeting is planned with leaders today, the Deputy CM said, he and Kharge will be travelling together to Karnataka, to pay last respects to Shamanuru Shivashankarappa.
Asked if he will seek time for a separate meeting with Congress leadership including Rahul Gandhi, during the next visit to Delhi, Sivakumar said, "such things will be there between us in the party.... you don't worry."
