26 arrested in Punjab for piracy

CHANDIGARH - The Punjab Police have arrested 26 people and seized hundreds of pirated CDs and DVDs from them, the Indian Music Industry and police officials said Tuesday.

On a tip from IMI, police raided several places in Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and other places across the state since Monday.

Over 4,300 pirated CDs, mostly of new films, 25 computers, 40 memory cards, 25 DVD writers, 5,000 inlay cards and other material were seized.

Over 21,000 pirated CDs were recovered in Punjab in August. At least 30 people were arrested.

Nearly 18,000 pirated CDs were seized with other material and 30 people were arrested in anti-piracy raids April and May.

IMI officials said Bollywood was suffering a loss of Rs.600 crore annually due to piracy.