Tuesday, May 12, 2020

KVIC serves legal notice; claims Rs 50 crore as damages for selling fake Khadi PPE Kits

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has sent legal notices to business firms for illegally using the brand name and registered trademark logo of ‘Khadi India’ to sell PPE kits in the market. Mr SS Dube, Mumbai, the advocate for KVIC sent the legal notices to Delhi-based firms - “M/s Nachia Corporations “, “Ms Pest Cure Incorporation” and “M/s Ved Prakash Mithal & Sons”.  KVIC has asked each firm to pay Rs 50 crore as damages for fraudulently using its name and registered trademark logo.

 In addition to the damages claimed, the KVIC has asked the firms to stop selling, marketing or distributing any such product bearing “Khadi India” logo and surrender all such products to KVIC immediately. Failing to comply by the notice within seven days, the KVIC will initiate legal action against the firms, the notice says. 

KVIC Chairman, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena said such gross violation would not be tolerated. "This is a serious violation. No individual or firm will be allowed to misuse the brand name of Khadi. Even in the past we have taken strict legal action against such violators that include some big companies," Saxena said.   

The action comes in wake of fake Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits being sold in the market under the brand name “Khadi India”. KVIC maintains that it has, so far, not launched any PPE kit in the market. PPE kits developed by KVIC made of khadi fabric are not for medical staff and it is at testing stage. It is also clarified that it has not authorized any firm to manufacture, sell or distribute PPE kits using its brand name and trademark logo.

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