Duplicate cement manufacturing unit busted in Bhubaneswar

The Commissionerate Police on Thursday busted a fake cement manufacturing unit on Tankapani road area under Badagada police limits in the outskirts of Odisha capital Bhubaneswar. Operating under the cover of trusted brand names, the factory produced counterfeit cement to be sold as genuine items in the market.

Acting on a tip-off, police forces raided and dismantled the fake cement factory before shutting it down. The Commissionerate Police acted swiftly following a tip-off, conducting a surprise raid that successfully unearthed the counterfeit activity. Several batches of fake cement were seized during the raid, which would have otherwise entered the market.

Shockingly, the illegal cement factory had been operating since the last one and a half years. However, the factory owner reiterated that they were original cement packets and were damaged in the rain.

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“We had stored 1000 packets that were damaged in the rain. So, we were trying to use the cement that is good enough for use as our construction work is going on in Badagada and Pahala area,” the store owner stated. 

Meanwhile, Commissionerate Police have reiterated their commitment to consumer protection, emphasising their zero-tolerance policy towards fraudulent activities.

“The raid was conducted after we received confidential information. We have seized around 500 packets of cement and have also sealed a selling counter in Pahala. They would recycle damaged cement and re-sale it using brand names. A case will be registered against everyone involved,” a raid official stated. 

Operations like these are part of an ongoing crackdown on counterfeit manufacturing units in the region, he added. The activities of such illegal factories not only deceive consumers but also pose quality and safety risks while building a house.