Sold machine-made carpet as handmade for Rs 2.5 lakh; criminal action initiated
Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar, (DD): A craft dealer in Tangmarg has been blacklisted and deregistered after being found guilty of selling a machine-made carpet falsely advertised as handmade to a tourist for Rs 2.5 lakh, officials said Monday.
Director of Handloom and Handicrafts, Mussarat Islam, confirmed the action and said a criminal case has been ordered against the accused for deceiving the buyer and tarnishing the reputation of Kashmir’s prized handicraft industry.
“Such malpractice amounts to fraud and seriously undermines the trust in our craft heritage. Strict legal and administrative action is being taken,” Islam said.
The incident came to light after the buyer raised concerns, prompting an investigation which revealed that the high-priced carpet was machine-made and mass-produced, not the handcrafted item it was claimed to be.
The department has also launched a verification drive across tourist destinations to ensure product authenticity and warned other registered dealers of strict consequences for similar misconduct.
Tourists and buyers have been advised to always insist on GI-tagged and certified products while purchasing Kashmiri handicrafts to avoid being misled( DD)