A total of 2,200 books valued at Rs 21 lakh have been found at the Tenkasi central library during inspections into allegedly counterfeit books purchased in the names of publishing houses, according to a report by Dinamalar – Tamil Nadu.
The discovery is part of a wider inspection being conducted across Tamil Nadu after allegedly counterfeit books were found at the E.V.R. Knowledge World Library in Coimbatore. The books at that library were reportedly produced under the names of fictitious authors and purchased using the names of the Akalvilakku and Phoenix publishing houses.
The inspections are examining whether similar books were purchased for libraries in other districts under the names of the same publishing houses. The latest finding at the Tenkasi central library has brought the issue into the administration of another public library and expanded the scope of the checks beyond the original discovery in Coimbatore.
According to the report, 2,200 books purchased under the name of Akalvilakku Publications were found at the Tenkasi library. Their reported value is Rs 21 lakh. A further 93 allegedly counterfeit books associated with Phoenix Publications were also identified during the inspection.
The report does not provide details of the purchase dates, the suppliers involved, the officials who approved the procurements or the specific process being followed to establish that the books are counterfeit. It also does not state whether the books have been removed from circulation, whether payments have been recovered or whether disciplinary or criminal proceedings have begun.
The findings have raised questions about the checks applied when books are selected, purchased and catalogued for public libraries. The inspections now underway across the state are intended to determine whether books bearing the names of the two publishing houses were acquired in other districts as well.
The Tenkasi discovery follows the earlier identification of allegedly counterfeit books at the Coimbatore library, which prompted criticism across Tamil Nadu. Further details on the inspection findings, responsibility for the purchases and the next administrative action were not included in the report.
