Police Bust Major Counterfeit Pesticide Racket; Key Accused Arrested
In a significant breakthrough, Telangana Police have arrested Rajendra Chechani—also known as Raju Chechani one of the prime accused in a large-scale counterfeit pesticide racket. The police arrested him on 2 May 2025 from his farmhouse located at Bassi village, Chittorgarh district, Rajasthan during a coordinated operation with the local police authorities.
The bust exposes the growing menace of counterfeit pesticides in India’s agricultural sector, where innocent farmers are frequently duped by such infringers with spurious/fake products. These fake chemicals, though packaged to resemble genuine brands, often lead to crop damage and reduced yields due to their harmful or ineffective ingredients. The latest arrest is expected to significantly disrupt the supply chain of counterfeit agrochemicals that spans several states.
Chechani is alleged to run a sophisticated such illicit trade and illegal network for over seven years, manufacturing and distributing fake pesticides across India through his associates based out in over 11 states in India. He supplied counterfeit products—bearing the labels of reputed agrochemical companies—through a wide network of associates operating in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.
Investigations revealed that Chechani also has a shop with the name Maheshwari Seeds and Pesticides in Bassi. He was reportedly a key supplier of both packaging materials and finished counterfeit products to various infringers across the country.
The arrest stems from FIR No. 831/2024 registered at LB Nagar Police Station under the Insecticides Act. , following the discovery of fake pesticides from the godown of an infringer E Rajesh in Hyderabad in July 2024.
Further investigation has uncovered multiple criminal cases filed against Chechani in several states, highlighting the extensive reach and repeated offenses of his operation.