Selling duplicate jeans as branded; Saradamani's manager, Prakash & Co. owner remain in custody

The craze for branded clothes is on the rise in the eastern part of the country. Silchar is one of the biggest markets in the Northeast. Apparels sold from Silchar are shipped to all corners of Barak Valley which is house to around 40 lakh people. One of the largest players in affordable clothing, Sparky has recently sent its legal advisor to Assam to check the violation of the copyright act and duplicity.

Jugal Kishore Ahuja, legal advisor of the brand had reached Silchar after conducting raids in Guwahati, Barpeta, Jorhat, Dibrugarh. In Silchar. Saradamoni Textiles in Central Road and Prakash & Co. in NN Dutta Road were raided. Jeans were seized from both the stores.

Speaking with Barak Bulletin, Ahuja said the brand through its trade network had collected intel that duplicate products are being sold as Sparky Jeans. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Assam are the three largest markets for Sparky that sells jeans throughout the country. “We reached Silchar and met the Superintendent of Police, madam Ramandeep Kaur. She has put me to Silchar Sadar OC and TSI Nilam Sanjeeb Nath accompanied us at the raids,” informed Sparky’s Legal Advisor, Jugal Kishore Ahuja.

“Once we reached Saradamoni Stores, we were subjected to misbehaviour. They started saying that they know the MP of Silchar and we must fear our actions. We told them that the MP will never support them in their wrongdoings and continued the raid. 18 pairs of duplicate Sparky Jeans were seized from the Saradamoni Stores,” informed Jugal Kishore Ahuja. The owner of the shop, Ashish Roy is out of the station and so, the Police arrested manager/senior staff, Gautam Mohaldar.

Swarnakhi Roy, daughter of Ashish Kumar Roy said that the legal advisor misbehaved with her when she went to speak on behalf of her father who is undergoing treatment in Delhi. “They did not show us any document and without any notice started raiding the store. Saradamoni Stores has earned trust and goodwill over the years and the way the legal advisor behaved was unfortunate. We buy in bulk from the company and now if there are 17-18 duplicate pieces in the lot, how are we responsible for the same,” said Swarnakhi Roy.

Jugal Kishore Ahuja, on the other hand, rubbished the allegations and said that the raid on November 2, was done following the law of the land in presence of the Police officials from Silchar Sadar.

A similar raid was conducted in Prakash and Co. a wholesale shop. 94 pairs of Jeans labelled ‘Fille’ and 41 pairs of Jeans labelled Sparky have been seized. The owner of the Shop, Prakash Pugalia has been arrested. Both Pugalia and Gautam Mohaldar of Saradamoni Stores were produced before the judge in court. They have been sent to judicial custody for 14 days.

If sources are to be believed, then Peter England, Park Avenue, Manyavar and many other such apparel brands are planning similar raids as they believe there are knock out products selling in the market.