Book publishers’ association condemns unlawful activities in industry

The Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India (BAPASI) on Thursday (November 12, 2026) condemned unethical, unlawful, or malicious activities in the publishing industry. This comes against the backdrop of the library book scam in the State.In a statement, the association said, “BAPASI clarifies that publishers under investigation and members found responsible for misconduct have never been members of BAPASI at any point in time.”Applicants to BAPASI are required to serve as associate members for a minimum period of three years before becoming eligible for consideration for full membership, it said.They further added that any member found, following due process, to have engaged in unlawful practices, serious professional misconduct, or the malicious publication of books or other material will face disciplinary action, including termination of membership and exclusion from BAPASI-organised or affiliated book fairs and events across the country.They further stressed that the actions of individuals or publishers under investigation does not reflect the values, policies, or activities of the association. Published - November 12, 2026 05:40 pm IST