Pune Businessman Booked for Selling Bakarwadi Using Chitale Bandhu’s Brand Name
Pune Businessman Booked for Selling Bakarwadi Using Chitale Bandhu’s Brand Name
In a recent case of alleged brand misuse, a popular Pune-based snack manufacturer, Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale—renowned for its signature Bakarwadi—has taken legal action against a local businessman for fraudulently using the company’s identity to market a similar product.
According to officials, a complaint was lodged against Pramod Prabhakar Chitale, the owner of ‘Chitale Sweet Home’, who has been accused of selling Bakarwadi under a deceptively similar brand name. The complaint claims he used misleading details like Chitale Bandhu’s customer care number, official email, and manufacturing information on his packaging.
Bakarwadi, a crispy, disc-shaped snack known for its unique blend of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors, is a flagship item of Chitale Bandhu.
“Over the past few months, we began receiving customer feedback about a Bakarwadi being sold under the name ‘Chitale’,” said Indranil Chitale, managing partner of the company. “When we acquired the product for inspection, we noticed distinct differences in the packaging. Our company’s details were falsely printed on it.”
Further analysis conducted at the company’s laboratory in Bhor confirmed that the fake product was quite different from the original. The imitation pack carried the name ‘Chitale Sweet Home’ in Marathi, labeled as ‘Puneri Special Bakarwadi’, along with a photo of the snack.
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Despite several warnings issued to the accused, the misuse persisted, prompting the company to involve law enforcement. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1) Sandip Singh Gill confirmed that a case has been registered at Vishrambaug police station under sections 318(2) (cheating) and 350 (false labeling) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with sections 66C and 66D (identity theft) of the IT Act. The investigation is currently ongoing.
