Bisleri files complaint against fake namesakes

Amid controversies surrounding packaged food in India and frequent collection of samples for lab tests, the anti-counterfeiting force working on behalf of Bisleri International in Delhi has registered a case with the Delhi Police, alleging rampant sale of fake Bisleri water bottles in certain areas of South Delhi, police said on Wednesday.

The packaged food controversy started with Maggi noodles and later the central food regulator FSSAI asked states to increase surveillance over edible oil, milk and even packaged drinking water. 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has also asked the state food safety commissioners to create awareness among the consumers regarding the standards and labelling requirements for packaged drinking water.

In its complaint registered with the Delhi Police, the anti-counterfeiting force has mentioned that unknown enterprises or persons were allegedly engaging in the sale of fake Bisleri bottles from around Neb Sarai and Mehrauli areas in South Delhi. 

The accused allegedly re-fill untested and unhygienic water in bottles bearing Bisleri  tag and seal them with duplicate caps.

They, then, allegedly put counterfeit labels, whose layout and design resemble the genuine format used by Bisleri International, thus deceiving the public at large. 

“ The nature of <g data-gr-id="33">product</g>, being water, is such that there is <g data-gr-id="34">apprehension</g> of several health hazards by the activities of the accused persons. By the aforesaid unlawful activities of the accused persons, the general public is continuously running the risk of disastrous consequences as the unauthorised re-filling of water appears to be done in absolutely unhygienic conditions,” the complaint further read.

On June 26, Delhi Police registered an FIR under Sections 63 and 65 of the Copyright Act, 1957. 

However, they have yet not been able to track any such accused enterprise or persons yet. A senior official from the concerned police sub-division said that he had no information regarding the case.

Around the same time in June, a risk management company working on behalf of Pepsico in New Delhi had registered a similar complaint regarding the re-filling and re-sealing of counterfeit Pepsi and other soft drink bottles under Pepsico label, said a police source.

In 2010, Delhi Police had busted a counterfeit soft drink racket allegedly operating from a locality in North-east Delhi. However, they are yet to track any such allegedly fake mineral water racket.