A manager of a private intellectual property services firm has lodged a complaint with the police, alleging the sale of counterfeit cigarettes near the airport on Thursday.
The complaint was lodged on March 12 by Srinivas S., who is working as a manager at IPR Services, the company that holds agency rights for cigarette brands and distributes them across Karnataka.
In his complaint, Srinivas stated that some unidentified persons were allegedly smuggling cigarettes from Cambodia into the country and selling them in Karnataka by packaging them as branded products. He alleged that the counterfeit cigarettes were being marketed in a manner similar to original products, which could harm public health and also damage the reputation of the company’s brand.
He further stated that on March 12 at around 12, he received credible information that some persons who had arrived from foreign countries were attempting to sell such cigarettes at Terminal 2 of the Kempegowda International Airport.
Based on the information, Srinivas approached the police and requested them to take necessary legal action against those involved in the alleged counterfeit cigarette trade.
The police said the complaint has been received and further investigation is under way.
The International Airport Police had registered a similar case earlier this year and arrested two men for selling counterfiet cigarettes.
Published - March 15, 2026 06:25 pm IST
