MUMBAI: The Hindi film industry and the Motion Picture Distributors Association (India) representing the Hollywood studios came together last week at FICCI-FRAMES 2010 to launch the first of its kind an Anti-Piracy coalition. The coalition showed its first positive result in just few days of its official announcement. On behalf of the film industry Mumbai Police along with AA Khan & Associates conducted several raids in Mumbai over the past few days seizing over 25292 pirated DVDs and CDs worth around Rs. 2.19 million (Rs 21.94 lakhs).

These raids were conducted at Andheri (East and West), Mumbai Central and Fort areas. Around 25292 DVDs were seized at these locations. The pirated CDs and DVDs included last week’s release Lahore, Road,Movie, Right Ya Wrong, Athiti Tum Kab Jaoge, My Name is Khan and English moves like Alice in Wonderland, Gamer, Young Victoria, Beauty and the Beast, The Tooth fairy, The Legion, Edge for Darkness among others.

Former IPS officer & Ex. ATS Chief Khan said, "Piracy is a serious offence and one which is rampant within major parts of the city.The recent announcement of the anti-piracy coalition between Hollywood studios and Hindi studios will help us push this initiative further. 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."

Nine people including Pankaj Pathak, Bunty Kumar, Mohd Siddique and Ismail Memon among others have been arrested during the Raid. The accused were booked under sections 51, 52(A), 63, 68(A) of the Copyright Act of 1957.

In the past few months, goods over Rs 5 million have been seized and over 50 arrests have been made.