Delhi Police recently busted an organized syndicate involved in the printing and distribution of counterfeit NCERT textbooks, seizing 44,862 fake books worth approximately ₹2 crore during a raid conducted on 16 January 2026, in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, according to news media reports.
The operation was carried out by the crime branch in coordination with authorized legal representatives of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). The raid was conducted at an illegal printing factory located near Ristal Road Puliya in Jawli village, Loni, Ghaziabad, which was identified as a major source of counterfeit NCERT textbooks. Loni is just across the Delhi border.
Police arrested one accused who was allegedly running the illegal printing unit. Investigation revealed that the factory was supplying counterfeit textbooks to two previously arrested accused as part of a wider distribution network.
From the factory premises, police recovered 32,107 duplicate and pirated textbooks. With this recovery, the total number of counterfeit textbooks seized in the case has reached 44,862. In addition, two offset printing press machines, paper reels, printing ink, and aluminium printing plates used for printing fake textbooks were also confiscated.
Media reports quoted Delhi Police as saying that the syndicate was involved in large-scale printing and distribution of counterfeit educational material, causing financial loss to NCERT and misleading students with substandard books. The seized items indicate a well-organised operation with industrial-scale printing capabilities.
NCERT been reiterating that authentic textbooks carry a watermark of the NCERT logo on their pages and advised students, parents, and booksellers to verify this feature to avoid purchasing counterfeit books.
