Lucknow: Authorities in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh have dismantled a large scale counterfeit mineral water manufacturing unit, acting on directives issued by a court in Karkarduma, Delhi. The illegal unit was manfuacturing and selling bottled water under the misleading brand name ‘CLEAR FRESH’ similar to the packaging used by the ‘CLEAR’ brand owned by a company based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
According to officials, the authorities seized packaging, bottles, caps and stickers worth crores of rupees from a unit run by S.M. Hightech City Private Limited at Agro Park, UPSIDC. The raid followed a complaint by the trademark owner, who alleged brand infringement and a loss of reputation.
The local police, accompanied by the court-appointed local commissioner Nimish Goyal and authorised company lawyer Rajan Dwivedi, oversaw the seizure, ensuring everything stayed within legal bounds. All the seized goods were documented along with the paperwork needed as per standard procedures.
“Fake mineral water doesn’t just harm consumers. It shakes trust in the market and affects the economy,” said an official involved in the matter.
The raid was undertaken to send a clear message: substandard and fake products won’t be tolerated. This raid was done to reassure citizens that their health and safety remain a priority.
Bottled Mineral water has become a necessity in many parts of the country, partly due to the unavailability of piped drinking water in remote areas and for travellers looking for drinking water. Consumers tend to buy based on the brand’s reputation and quality, and some criminals try to profit from it through similar-sounding and misleading names.
Authorities have advised citizens to buy mineral water only from known, certified brands and to avoid suspicious sources.
