A major crackdown on counterfeit NCERT textbooks worth Rs 2.4 crore has taken a dramatic turn, as Delhi Police suspended a special staff inspector and launched an internal enquiry against two more officers for alleged procedural lapses during the operation.
The now-controversial raid, conducted on May 16 in Shahdara, was triggered by a tip-off received by the suspended inspector. With the help of NCERT officials, the Special Staff team arrested three individuals and uncovered large stocks of fake textbooks from a property on Mandoli Road.
Those arrested include Prashant Gupta, 48, and his son Nishant Gupta, 26, who allegedly ran the printing racket with the assistance of hired labourers.
However, the operation’s legitimacy has come under scrutiny. Two sub-inspectors—one from the Special Staff and another from the Anti Auto Theft Squad (AATS)—are now under departmental probe. Investigators are examining whether the team acted within their jurisdiction and followed proper legal protocols.
“It’s uncommon for the Special Staff to intervene in textbook counterfeiting cases. This unit typically handles grave criminal matters,” a senior police official noted.
This isn’t the first time authorities have busted such a racket. Just a month prior, over 4,000 fake NCERT books were recovered from another operation led by a suspect allegedly operating out of multiple Delhi-based printing presses.
The latest developments not only highlight the scale of counterfeit educational material but also raise uncomfortable questions about oversight and operational ethics within Delhi’s law enforcement ranks.
