A complaint was lodged at the Ernakulam Central Police Station regarding the sale of counterfeit copies of the book ‘Ram C/o Anandhi,’ published by DC Books. The complaint was made regarding the sale of the novel at the Guna Cave Exhibition Center located at Marine Drive in Ernakulam, where the pirated versions of the books were found being sold in violation of copyright laws.

The stall was operated by residents of Thiruvananthapuram. Police confirmed that nine out of the ten books for sale were counterfeit. Habeeb Rahman, a local from Poonthura in Thiruvananthapuram, has been taken into custody, and the police is actively pursuing the case. Authorities are implementing strict measures against the distribution of pirated books, both through social media and other channels, as this threatens the livelihoods of writers and the book publishing industry.

The complainant, Venugopal G, a 58-year-old resident of Pampady Village in Kottayam, visited the exhibition and observed the sale of these unauthorised copies. He immediately reported the matter to the authorities at around 7:50 pm on the same day.

Venugopal provided a detailed statement to ASI Rajagopal, who was on duty at the police station. In his statement, he highlighted the violation of the Copyright Act due to the sale of these counterfeit editions of the book. Following the complaint, the police registered a case under Crime No. 1461/2024, citing Section 63-A of the Copyright Act.

The police will now take further action based on the information provided by Venugopal, with the FIR and accompanying statement being forwarded to the appropriate court and relevant authorities for further investigation.

Pirated book copy: Legal implications

A pirated copy of a book is an unauthorised reproduction that violates the copyright holder's rights, specifically under Section 63-A of the Copyright Act. This section outlines the penalties for selling or distributing pirated works without the necessary permissions from the original publisher or author. Such copies are often produced and sold at lower prices, undermining the revenue of authors and publishers and impacting their ability to create new works.

Ram C/o Anandhi

Ram C/o Anandi," authored by Akhil P. Dharmarajan, is a novel inspired by real incidents in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The book weaves together elements of love, humour, travel, and action, creating a narrative that draws readers into its richly crafted world. With its engaging storytelling and relatable characters, the novel offers a blend of emotions and adventures that resonate with audiences.