Pune: In a significant operation, Pune police raided a clothing store in the Erandwane area for selling counterfeit Levi’s branded apparel. The raid resulted in the seizure of fake merchandise valued at ₹4.39 lakh.

The investigation began when Rakesh Sawant, a Levi’s company representative, reported the sale of counterfeit goods at a store named “Brand Kind Clothing” on Gulawani Maharaj Road, Erandwane. Acting on this complaint, the Crime Branch swiftly conducted a raid on the premises.

During the operation, authorities seized 118 pairs of jeans, 15 shirts, and 24 t-shirts that were branded with fake Levi’s labels. The total value of the seized items was estimated to be ₹4.39 lakh.

The store owner has been booked under the Copyright Act for selling counterfeit products. The operation highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement and brand representatives to curb intellectual property rights violations.

The raid was executed under the supervision of Additional Police Commissioner Shailesh Balkawade, Deputy Commissioner of Police Nikhil Pingale, and Assistant Commissioner of Police Ganesh Ingle.

Officers from Crime Branch Unit 3, including Inspector Rangrao Pawar, Assistant Inspector Madan Kamble, and Sub-Inspectors Rajesh Patoale, Sanjeev Kalambe, Vinod Bhandalkar, and Rakesh Tekawade, played a crucial role in the operation.