BIS seizes 2.75 kg spuriously hallmarked gold jewellery
   Date :23-Jan-2023

hallmarked gold jewellery 
 
 
 
Business Bureau
As a part of their Special Enforcement (Search and Seizure) Drive, the officials of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) conducted raids in various cities in the State including Nagpur to check misuse of BIS hallmark on gold jewellery. The raids were carried out simultaneously at six locations in Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Nagpur, on Friday. In Zaveri Bazar, Mumbai, two establishments engaged in fake hallmarking on gold jewellery were raided leading to seizure of around 2.75 kg of gold jewellery worth over Rs 1.5 crore. Similar operations at Thane, Pune and Nagpur also led to seizure of spuriously marked jewellery and actions against such firms engaged in duping customers by applying fake hallmark on gold jewellery and also applying hallmark on gold jewellery without adequate testing and quality checks specified by BIS.
The search and seizure operations were carried out at M/s Riddhi Siddhi Hallmark, Itwari in the city. Apart from this, premises of M/s Shree Shankeshwar Assaying and Tunch, Zaveri Bazar, Mumbai, M/s Jai Vaishnav Hallmarking Centre, Zaveri Bazar, Mumbai, M/s Vishal Hallmarking Centre, Jambli Naka, Thane, M/s Shree Shankeshwar Assaying and Hallmarking Centre, Andheri, Mumbai, and M/s Jogeshwari Assaying and Hallmarking Centre, Ravivar Peth, Pune were also searched.
As per BIS Act 2016, the misuse of BIS standard mark, including hallmark, is punishable with imprisonment up to two years or a fine of minimum Rs 2,00,000, but may extend up to 10 times the value of articles affixed or applied with a standard mark, including hallmark, or both as per BIS Act 2016. Action is being initiated to file a case in the court of law for the offence. Actions, including prosecution, are also envisaged against all jewellers who have been party to such illegal spurious marking, says a press release issued by Sandeep S Kumar, Scientist C / Deputy Director and Hallmarking Officer, BIS, Western Region.
It has been observed many times that spuriously hallmarked jewellery are sold to consumers for huge profit. Therefore, it is important to look for complete BIS hallmark, including BIS logo, purity in carat and fineness, and HUID on jewellery. HUID or Hallmark Unique ID, is a unique code engraved on each gold jewellery that authenticates the BIS hallmark marked on it. Details of the hallmarked jewellery such as the purity of the jewellery, type of jewellery, name of the jeweller who got the jewellery hallmarked and the hallmarking centre which tested and certified the jewellery etc., can also be seen before making the purchase, by tracking the HUID of the ornament using the “BIS CARE” mobile application.