In a major crackdown on counterfeit electronics, the Delhi Police have unearthed an organised racket involved in the illegal assembly and sale of fake premium smartphones in the bustling Karol Bagh market, arresting four persons and seizing over 500 counterfeit devices, officials said on Sunday.
The accused were allegedly assembling high-end fold and flip smartphones using imported spare parts from China, affixing fake IMEI numbers marked “Made in Vietnam”, and selling the devices as genuine branded handsets to unsuspecting customers at prices ranging between ₹35,000 and ₹40,000 per unit.
According to police, a total of 512 fake premium smartphones — including fully assembled and semi-assembled units — were recovered during the operation, along with a large quantity of mobile components and specialised assembling tools.
Night raid after intelligence input
The action followed a specific intelligence input regarding illegal mobile phone assembly being carried out at a shop in Karol Bagh. Acting on the information, a special police team conducted a late-night raid on the intervening night of December 13 and 14.
During the raid, four men were caught red-handed while assembling smartphones inside the premises.
The arrested accused have been identified as Hakim (36), believed to be the mastermind of the racket, Mehtab Ahmad Ansari (36), Ravi Ahuja (36), and Rahul (33).
Huge cache of fake components seized
Police officials said the seized items included 124 mobile motherboards, 138 batteries, 459 fake IMEI printed stickers, back glass panels, body frames, cameras, speakers, and a large quantity of accessories. Several specialised tools used to give the devices a factory-finished appearance were also recovered.
“All the accused failed to produce any valid documents or provide a satisfactory explanation for the possession of the recovered articles,” a senior police officer said, adding that a case has been registered under relevant provisions of law.
Sold as genuine premium smartphones
During interrogation, Hakim disclosed that despite having studied only up to Class 8 and lacking formal technical training, he had been running the operation for a considerable period. He admitted to importing mobile spare parts and fake IMEI stickers from China, which were then assembled locally with the help of his associates.
The assembled fold and flip models were sold in the open market as brand-new premium smartphones, exploiting high consumer demand and making it difficult for buyers to immediately detect the fraud.
Serious security and consumer risks
Police noted that the use of fake IMEI numbers poses serious national security risks, as such devices become untraceable and can be misused for criminal or unlawful activities. The false “Made in Vietnam” labels were allegedly used to enhance credibility and evade scrutiny.
Probe to widen
Investigators are now tracing the supply chain of the counterfeit components, including import routes and possible links to larger interstate or international networks. Police are also examining whether similar illegal assembly units are operating in other parts of Delhi and NCR.
Authorities have advised consumers to exercise caution while purchasing premium smartphones from informal markets and to verify IMEI numbers and warranty documents before making high-value purchases.
The Karol Bagh bust highlights the growing threat posed by counterfeit electronics rackets, even as enforcement agencies intensify action against organised fraud in major commercial hubs.
