Report

Pune’s iconic sweet brand Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale launched an investigation after receiving repeated customer complaints about a change in the taste of their popular Bakarwadi. The brand’s management assigned Nitin Dalvi, personal secretary to partner Indraneel Chitale, to look into the matter.

Sweet Shop Owner Misuses Brand Identity

Dalvi’s investigation uncovered that Pramod Prabhakar Chitale, who runs Chitale Sweet Home in Sadashiv Peth, had allegedly been selling counterfeit Bakarwadi under the guise of the original brand. The packets carried Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale official email ID, customer care number, manufacturing details, and even the brand’s original website—misleading buyers into believing the product was genuine. Additionally, listings on platforms like JioMart falsely linked Chitale Sweet Home’s products to the original brand by displaying their name, address, and contact details.

Dalvi Collects Samples from Shops and Online

Dalvi purchased the suspect products from various city shops, a local mall, and online platforms. He also visited the Sadashiv Peth store in person. He sent all collected samples to Chitale Bandhu Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale’s Bakarwadi plant in Ranje village, Bhor taluka, for verification. Lab tests confirmed that the taste and composition of the seized Bakarwadi did not match that of Chitale Bandhu’s original recipe. The misbranding raised serious concerns about consumer deception and brand misuse.

Police Register Case Under Fraud and IT Laws

Following Dalvi’s report, Vishrambaug Police registered an FIR against Pramod Chitale under sections 318(2) and 350 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, which cover identity fraud and digital deception. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) recorded Dalvi’s statement and handed over the case to the Crime Branch of Pune City Police. No arrests have been made yet, but investigations are ongoing.

Source: The Indian Express