Counterfeit military combat uniform racket comes to light in Rajasthan

A joint operation by the Army’s Intelligence units and the Rajasthan Police has uncovered a counterfeit military combat uniform racket in Rajasthan’s Sriganganagar district, leading to the seizure of nearly 1,000 metres of unauthorised Army-pattern combat cloth.

According to the Army, the operation was launched after a consignment of counterfeit combat cloth was seized in Bareilly in June this year. Investigators traced the material to a manufacturing source in Sriganganagar, prompting the Army’s Intelligence units to carry out a discreet probe.

The investigation identified a local firm as a key link in the supply chain, allegedly distributing counterfeit Army-pattern combat cloth to shops in Sriganganagar town as well as Lalgarh Jattan, Suratgarh, and other nearby markets.

Based on the Army’s interim investigation report shared with the Rajasthan Police in mid-July, a coordinated operation was carried out on July 30. Joint teams searched multiple shops across the district and seized around 1,000 metres of unauthorised new-pattern combat cloth.

Security risk

Officials said the unauthorised possession, sale or use of military-pattern combat cloth is a punishable offence and poses a significant security risk by potentially facilitating the impersonation of armed forces personnel.

The investigation is continuing to identify the manufacturers, suppliers, and distribution network behind the counterfeit military-pattern fabric.