Surat Police Bust Fake Ghar Soap Racket, Seize 6,000 Bars

SURAT: A four-month counterfeit soap operation selling fake products online has been busted in Surat, with Laskana police seizing 6,000 soap bars worth ₹2.04 lakh and arresting two alleged online traders.

The accused allegedly bought fake “Ghar Soaps” from a supplier in Mota Varachha, repackaged the products and sold them through the e-commerce platform Meesho. Police said the supplier fled after shutting his shop when officers began searching for him.

Acting on a tip-off, Laskana police raided Office No. 104 at Sahjanand Hub on Laskana-Gadhpur Road, opposite N.C. Thakkar School. They found 2,000 boxes of the allegedly counterfeit “GHAR SOAPS AYURVEDA + SCIENCE MAGIC SOAP” brand.

Each box contained three soap bars, taking the total seizure to 6,000 bars. Police valued the seized stock at ₹2.04 lakh, or ₹102 per three-bar pack.

The arrested accused have been identified as Chiragbhai Nagjibhai Rangani, 31, and Deepakbhai Kalubhai Radadiya, 34.

Fake soap sold as bargain deal

During questioning, police allegedly found that the duo had been operating the racket for around four months. The genuine three-bar pack reportedly sells for about ₹399, while the accused allegedly offered the counterfeit product online for ₹102.

The soap is promoted on social media as a “tan removal” or “magic soap”, making the counterfeit trade particularly attractive to online buyers.

Police said the accused used their own residential addresses to handle product returns from customers.

“Our investigation is focused on identifying the source of the counterfeit products and tracing the money received through online sales,” police officials said.

Supplier on the run

Police said the accused claimed their Laskana office was used mainly for packaging. The counterfeit stock was allegedly supplied by a person operating from Mota Varachha.

When police reached the suspected supplier’s premises, they found that he had closed the shop and fled.

Investigators found no GST registration, distributorship licence or purchase invoices at the accused’s office. Police have now started tracing the bank accounts linked to the online transactions.

The original manufacturer has also been informed by email about the alleged copyright infringement.

Police are investigating where the fake soaps were manufactured and whether more traders or suppliers are linked to the network.