Hyderabad: Fake Pizza Den busted in Marredpally; FIR lodged

Hyderabad: Authorities have busted a fake Pizza Den in Marredpally.

The outlet was raided on September 10, after an authorised representative of Pizza Den filed a complaint.

Complaint Filed by Trademark Owner

According to the FIR (No. 177/2025, PS Marredpally), the complaint was filed by V.S. Raj Kowtilya, 54, authorised person for Pizza Den. The brand, registered under the Trade Marks Act, 1999 (Application No. 2554688, Certificate No. 3863451), operates from its registered office at Shop No.7, Paradise Complex, Opposite Wesley Junior College, P.G. Road, Secunderabad.

In his written statement, Kowtilya said:

“Recently, I came to know that one shop in the name of ‘Pizza Den’ situated at Krishnapuri Colony, West Marredpally, is being run by Mr. Indarkar Subash, illegally imitating our brand. He has been falsely operating the shop as the original Pizza Den, spreading over the online and offline market via Swiggy and Zomato, using low-cost material and adulterated, unhygienic raw materials, which is totally damaging the complainant’s business and brand name.”

Fake Materials and Boxes Seized

During the raid, officials seized fake rubber stamps and pizza boxes carrying the Pizza Den branding. The accused was also found to be using the brand’s name to offer outdoor catering services — an activity the original Pizza Den clarified it does not undertake.

Satlakhiya Preetesh, owner of the real Pizza Den, speaking to NewsMeter, said, “The misuse of Pizza Den’s name by fraudulent users online undermines customer trust and compromises the integrity we’ve built over years of service.”

Police Action and Case Details

The case has been booked under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 63 of the Copyright Act.

M. Tirupathi, Sub-Inspector of Police, Marredpally, who registered the case, noted in the FIR, “As per the contents of the petition, a case has been registered in Cr. No.177/2025 U/S 318(4) BNS and 63 of the Copyright Act, and investigation has been taken up.”

The accused has been identified as Mr. Indarkar Subash. Further investigation is underway.