MUMBAI: The Hollywood-Bollywood coalition against piracy has started gaining wings.

Earlier raids against pirates were only conducted in Maharashtra, more specifically in Mumbai and suburbs. Now raids are being conducted in the interiors of Maharashtra and the neighbouring state of Gujarat.

Recently, police across Maharashtra and Gujarat conducted several raids across Mumbai, Buldana, Vadodara and Surat and uncovered 41,713 pirated discs including multiple DVD prints of recent Hollywood and Bollywood releases like Kites, Iron Man 2, Shrek 4 and Badmaash Company.

The Mumbai police conducted multiple raids across Mumbai and seized close to 8,755 pirated discs. In a raid conducted by a joint team of 12 members from the SS Branch (PI Kane) and AA Khan & Associates in Chembur, 4,500 discs were recovered from six stalls in the area. In a similar raid, the Powai Police Station seized close to 1,800 DVDs. 

Commented AA Khan, "Piracy is a serious offence and one which is rampant within major parts of the city. We along with Mumbai Police are dedicated to the cause of arresting the increase of such activities. However, the job of the police is nullified since the common man goes and purchases movies from such pirates. People need to remember that besides denying the creators of the content their fair share, the proceeds from such sales fund several illegal activities including terrorism in India and abroad."

Simultaneous raids conducted by Nallasopara and Mira Road Police stations unearthed 350 pirated discs.

In Buldana, the United Copyright Protection Association (UCPA) conducted a where the team seized 15,000 pirated DVDs, 3,000 inlay cards and one burner with nine in-built DVD writers. The material is said to be worth Rs 250 million.

The first raid in Gujarat was conducted in Vadodara by the police along with UCPA that resulted in the seizure of 14,953 pirated DVDs and 10 DVD writers worth Rs 500,000. The second raid conducted in Surat yeilded 1,960 pirated CDs and DVDs.