Pramesh S Jain
A complaint has been lodged at the K. S. Layout Police Station alleging large-scale smuggling and sale of counterfeit cigarettes under the brand name of ITC Limited.
According to the complainant,duplicate cigarettes bearing the ITC brand are allegedly being manufactured in Cambodia and smuggled into the country by air.
The products are reportedly being sold in and around the airport area and distributed to different parts of the state under the guise of genuine company products.
The complaint states that on February 22, 2026,at around 12.30 am,two individuals allegedly arrived at Terminal 2 of the Kempegowda International Airport and were involved in distributing cartons of the counterfeit cigarettes to various locations.
The complainant has alleged that the accused misused the company’s trademark and packaging design to market the fake products,causing financial losses and reputational damage to the company.
It was also stated that the sale of such counterfeit cigarettes could pose serious health risks to consumers due to the unknown quality and composition of the products.
Based on the complaint,police have registered a case and initiated an investigation.
Officials said efforts are underway to identify the accused and trace the source and distribution network of the alleged counterfeit cigarettes.
