Surat: What may seem like pocket-friendly cosmetic products on online platforms could not only be inexpensive but also fake and potentially harmful. Today, the Local Crime Branch and Pune Police of Surat raided a warehouse and seized counterfeit cosmetics worth ₹11.78 lakh. A father and his two sons were apprehended for running this illegal business and selling counterfeit products online on e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, and Meesho at huge profits.

The accused—Babubhai Ukabhai Chauhan (54) and his sons Niral (27) and Siddharth (22)—imported raw materials cheaply, filled them into bottles, and labeled them with fake stickers of well-known brands. Items costing just ₹10 were being sold for up to ₹200. Police also seized computers and printers worth ₹25,000 used for packaging.

The family, residing in Madhav Park Society, Pune, now faces legal action, while investigations continue to identify others involved in the network and distribution channels. Experts warn that such products can have harmful effects on the skin. The incident also raises questions about the accountability of online marketplaces in preventing the sale of counterfeit goods. DeshGujarat