``This is a new pattern of crime,'' says P N Ingale, assistant commissionerof police, crime branch. He, like his colleagues, is coming to terms withcrimes of the new age, be it cyber crimes or pirating digital technology.For Sandeep, his ``business interests are diversified'' as he puts it. Hewill copy anything be it audio CDs or software or even computer games. Toincrease his profits he has also started renting out and sellingpornographic CDs.

Starting this venture is laughably simple. ``CD writers are available for aslow as Rs 9,000 which can read most CDs. Some are expensive and come for Rs19,000 upwards but this one does fine,'' he says pointing to his machine.Attach a CD player, a computer and you are in business. Rather lucrative itseems, as Sandeep buys an original CD for Rs 500 and makes innumerablecopies which he sells for Rs 215. What started a year back has reaped enoughprofits for him to ``diversify'' his ``business.'' Today he is thinking ofstarting pool dens and a cybercafe and also rents out the latest Hindiblockbuster on CDs which are supplied from Singapore. And these films areshown in various cable networks in the city proving as big a threat to thefilm industry as videos were.

Technology, says Ingale, is the biggest handicap. ``We need technical peopleto help us out when we prosecute such cases. We also need software companiesand music companies to get in touch with us which will help us in arrestingsuch crimes.''

Something that is not happening. A few years back the music industry hadfloated an independent body to fight piracy. Known as the IMI (which standsfor Indian Music Industry) the only connection it has to Pune are theadvertisements that are flashed on the music channels. ``We have not heardof any representatives of the IMI here,'' says Mahendra Dave, owner ofOceanic Sound and Vision, one of the most frequented music shops in thecity. ``There are no representatives of the music companies either and thatadds to lack of policing,'' he points out.

A few months back the city police had raided a software dealer on Karve Roadand confiscated illegal software worth Rs five crore. That put the pressureon Sandeep and his ilk who since then shifted their goods over a wider areato avoid being caught.

But in that case, as Ingale points out, the case was initiated by officialsof the National Association of Software Companies, widely known as NASCOM,an independent Delhi-based body that like the IMI was floated by thefledgling software industry in India. Backed by major players like Microsoftit was created to deal with piracy among other things.

Today their absence has added in encouraging the piracy dealers in the city.Pune, being a city that is sprouting cyber cafes faster than ever and beingtouted as one of the three cyber cities along with Bangalore and Hyderabad,is caught in a trap. Interest in cyber careers provides the expertise and abetter upmarket life demands all products digital and lack of effectivepolicing helps bootleggers to step in and satisfy its clientele. Some ofthat may change as Microsoft is reported to be setting up their office inthe city next month. But that still leaves the music industry under threat.

But all is not hunky dory as a major music dealer, speaking on conditions ofanonymity alleges that the industry almost forces them into piracy.

``We keep asking for supplies but the dealers do not respond. When customerscome in asking for some albums we simply copy them and sell them at cheaperrates.'' According to him with tapes being recorded from CDs the qualityproves satisfactory for most customers, with low prices being a majorincentive. ``Tapes are available for Rs 100. Most will sell it for Rs 60 to70 which makes a decent profit,'' says the dealer. The police are helpless,says Ingale. ``We cannot go and conduct raids suo moto. It would beharassment of a lot of innocent people also. We need more interaction withpeople who are monitoring such cases.'' Till that happens Pune will make aname in the digital world, but not one it would be proud of.