Bajaj was nabbed after the trail of a complaint by advocate Aakash Chittranshi, attorney for major software firms including Autodesk, Microsoft Corporation, Adobe System, Tata Consultancy and Vedika Software, led to him. Chittranshi has been appointed to ensure against duplication of these firms' programmes, manuals, user instructions, catalogues and materials and guard against infringement of Section 63 of the Copyrights Act, informed officers of the crime branch control. While the first three companies are registered in the United States, the others are registered in India.

Chittranshi received a tip-off that the owner of Shop No 102 at Al Sabha Market, Musafirkhana, Crawford Market, was selling CDs containing programmes created by these companies, informed the police. On March 9, Chittranshi visited the shop and posing asa customer, placed an order of 20 CDs with accused Ibrahim Dacchi, who was at the counter. Dacchi, after consulting the shop owner and co-accused Sikander Mirza, handed over a receipt in the form of a visiting card to Chittranshi.

After placing the order, Chittranshi lodged a complaint with the crime branch control, which then arrested the duo while they were handing over the CDs to Chittranshi. A search led to the seizure of 12 more CDs. The duo were later released on bail.

During interrogation, the duo told the police that Bajaj was behind the distribution and sale of the CDs in Crawford Market. Bajaj then moved the Sessions Court for anticipatory bail.

In their submission, the police said their inquires revealed that Bajaj was involved in the racket since one and a half years, and was a vital source if the trail of the smuggling and distribution of the CDs had to be unearthed.

The CDs are smuggled through unauthorised agents in Singapore, China, Taiwan, and Bajaj is the only contact who could leadthe investigating agency to agents of the smugglers based in India, said the police.

Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.