Indian Police Crack Down on Book Piracy, Seize Over 20,000 Illegal Copies

Indian police seized 20,000+ pirated books, busting a major illegal network and intensifying action against piracy to protect authors, publishers, and intellectual property rights.

on Mar 24, 2026

Indian Police Crack Down on Book Piracy, Seize Over 20,000 Illegal Copies

The Indian Police launched a major operation against a large-scale intellectual property crime ring in early October 2021, shutting down numerous book piracy operations and seizing over 20,000 counterfeits during a synchronized raid. After conducting weeks of surveillance and conducting a thorough investigation, authorities targeted multiple locations used by criminals for printing, storing, and distributing counterfeit books.

As noted by authorities, many of the books included unauthorized copies of popular selling titles that had been reproduced and sold at discounted prices through local and internet markets. The illegal sale of these counterfeit books has affected the revenues of publishers and caused significant harm to authors whose works were used without permission.

Authorities report that multiple people associated with this criminal enterprise have been taken into custody while being questioned, and other arrests are anticipated as the investigation continues. The police are also attempting to track the supply chain, both the printing and distribution systems that have been utilized to distribute these pirated books throughout various parts of the country.