THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH vs HAFIZ MOHAMMAD ISMAIL ANDHAFIZ JAWED ALI

The Supreme Court held that the wrappers and labels of the counterfeit Sunlight and Lifebuoy soaps sold by the respondents constituted counterfeiting under Section 486 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The Court clarified that it was not necessary for the imitation to be exact, as per Section 28 IPC, and emphasized that the resemblance must be such as to deceive a person. The High Court's acquittal of the respondents was overturned, and the conviction was reinstated, affirming the importance of consumer protection against deceptive practices.