The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) along with Microsoft legal team conducted a raid at Wazirpur based Kapish Infolinks on September 28 on charges of supplying fake Microsoft software. As per the sources, Microsoft filed a detailed criminal complaint against Kapish Infolinks. However, it was reported that there were no seizure of any pirated or counterfeited software, and no one was arrested during the raid.
Kapish Infolink has been into the distribution of anti-virus and Tally software. It was associated with Microsoft for 5-6 years, but stopped its business with Microsoft since last 2 years due to its unfriendly channel policies.
When The DQ Week contacted the owner of Kapish Infolinks, Manoj Agarwal confirmed that the EOW raided at his shop and said, "On Friday, the team of crime branch and officials of Microsoft conducted surprised raid at our premises. The team started their search at around 2:30 pm, which continued till 6.30 pm. During the search, the team did not find any kind of pirated or counterfeited software of Microsoft. However, they had doubt on the genuineness of CD of HP media which was bought with HP laptop, but later they got convinced and closed the matter. No pirated/counterfeit or copied software was found at our premises."
Agarwal also commented, "Ever since we have stopped Microsoft business, the company has been harassing us in different cases.Microsoft wanted to spoil our reputation of in the market. In previous cases of similar raids, I have been interrogated in other and previous Microsoft raids cases like KK Software, e-Sys and Computer Plaza. Having said that, this kind of raid at my office took place because we have not supported Microsoft in doing unethical business practice. Although we don't directly deal in Microsoft business, but we were taking back to back orders of Microsoft. Now, after this episode, we have put a message board outside of our premises for our customers that we do not deal in any kind of Microsoft software business."
Another channel partner of Wazirpur market remarked, "The Wazirpur market is considered to be a free piracy zone. Unlike Nehru Place, there is no selling of software through hawkers. But despite our efforts to maintain the market free from such raids, Microsoft does harass our members time to time. We find Microsoft as the most unreasonable company, as its legal people create undue and undeserved problems for a dealer who does not work for/with Microsoft."