MUMBAI: Home video company Shemaroo Video has announced that in a raid carried out at Movie Town - an outlet in the Mumbai suburb of Andheri a few days ago its anti-piracy team seized 812 pirated DVDs and VCDs worth rs. 250,000. An FIR has been filed against the owner of the shop at Lokhandwala Mansoor Ali.
The raid happened after initial surveys and warnings, which the owner ceased to heed. The raid, originally planned for 12 August 2005 got postponed after the owner got a whiff of the raid and shut shop.
With the help from Senior Inspector RR Joshi and other officers from the Social Service branch, the raid was again set in quite motion on 13 August. Pirated DVDs of recent releases like Paheli, Sarkar, Dus, Yahaan, Yakeen and Seher were caught in the raid. Incidentally, Shemaroo is releasing the original DVD of Dus tomorow 18th August. Other pirated copies of English films were also seized in this raid.
The Shemaroo anti-piracy team carries out various vigilance activities gathering information, surveillance and warning the pirates. The team also gives information about dealing in legitimate products and educates on the consequences of dealing in pirated video products. Only when they cease to heed to all the warnings that Shemaroo raids the outlet and takes action against the pirates.