Tenkasi Central Library has been reported to contain 2,200 counterfeit books valued at Rs 21 lakh, including books procured under the name of Akalvilakku Publications. The discovery forms part of inspections being carried out across Tamil Nadu after a separate case involving allegedly fake books at the E.V.R. Knowledge World Library in Coimbatore.
According to a report by Dinamalar, the books found in Tenkasi were purchased under the name of Akalvilakku Publications. A further 93 books linked to Phoenix Publications were also identified as counterfeit. The report did not provide details of the purchase dates, suppliers, officials responsible for procurement or the specific tests used to determine that the books were fake.
The inspections began after books carrying the names of fictitious authors were found at the Coimbatore library, according to the report. The books were identified as having been procured under the names of Akalvilakku and Phoenix Publications. The findings triggered criticism in Tamil Nadu and prompted checks in libraries across the state for similar material.
The Tenkasi discovery places the issue within the functioning of the public-library procurement system, where books are acquired for access by readers and are financed through institutional or public resources. The reported value of the books identified in Tenkasi is Rs 21 lakh, making the case more than a question of catalogue accuracy or publishing irregularities. It also raises questions about how titles, authorship, publisher credentials and invoices are checked before books enter library collections.
The report does not state whether the 2,200 Akalvilakku books and 93 Phoenix books have been removed from circulation, sealed for examination or subjected to a formal audit. It also does not identify whether the books were supplied directly by publishers, distributors or another vendor. No response from the Tenkasi district library administration or the Tamil Nadu public-library authorities was included in the supplied report.
The wider inspections are significant because the reported discovery in Tenkasi follows the earlier Coimbatore case and involves the same publication names. However, the available information does not establish how many libraries may contain similar books or whether the cases resulted from a common procurement channel. Those details will depend on the ongoing checks and any subsequent findings by the authorities.
The immediate administrative steps are expected to include examination of the identified books and review of the procurement records connected with their purchase. The supplied report does not specify a deadline for completing the inspections, announce disciplinary action or record any criminal or civil proceedings. Further details on verification, responsibility and action against suppliers will be required to establish the full extent of the issue.
