Nagpur police have seized stocks of allegedly counterfeit green firecrackers carrying fake or non-functional QR codes and barcodes, after inspections at nearly 400 outlets ahead of Diwali. The checks have also led to around 10 cases for licence and safety violations, with enforcement teams warning traders that banned crackers cannot be sold by falsely presenting them as certified products.
Police said many packets of bombs, anars and other high-intensity crackers displayed the green logo of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), but did not provide working links to manufacturer details, PESO licence information or emission-compliance data. Several codes either produced no result or led to blank pages, according to officers involved in the checks.
Zonal Deputy Commissioner of Police Rahul Madane said the police were seeking legal advice on registering cheating cases against traders who used fake barcodes. Officers said the practice could amount to deliberate deception of both buyers and authorities because the labels suggest that the products meet the requirements for certified green crackers.
The inspections follow directions from the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court to ensure that only certified green crackers are sold in the city and that prescribed noise limits are observed. The court has also barred the bursting of firecrackers on public roads and directed stricter compliance with conditions under the Explosives Act.
Only crackers certified by CSIR-NEERI and carrying valid details linked to the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation, or PESO, are permitted under the restrictions described by police. Conventional high-decibel crackers and string crackers, commonly known as ladis, remain banned. Earlier market surveys had also found uncertified and restricted varieties being sold openly in areas including Fataka Bazaar.
Nagpur Commissioner of Police Vishwas Nangre Patil has reinforced the restrictions through a prohibitory order issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. The order is effective from November 6 until midnight on November 14, 2026. It prohibits the bursting of firecrackers on public roads, in line with the High Court’s September 23 direction.
The order also prohibits firecracker use within 200 feet of petrol pumps, LPG cylinder godowns, kerosene depots, firecracker shops and storage locations containing inflammable or chemical materials. Silence zones around schools, colleges, hospitals and courts are protected as well. Flying lanterns have been banned across the city.
Retailers and wholesalers have been directed to stock and sell only green crackers, given Nagpur’s moderate air-pollution classification. Police enforcement teams are continuing market raids and have asked residents to insist on bills and verify product codes before purchasing firecrackers. Further legal action against traders using counterfeit barcodes will depend on the legal advice being obtained by the police.
