Couple’s Software Piracy Trial Rescheduled

The federal criminal trial of a Southern California couple charged with money laundering and running the country’s largest software counterfeiting ring has been rescheduled for Jan. 18. Atul Sowmitra Dhurandhar, a 51-year-old native of India, and his wife, Mamta, 44, both of Palos Verdes, are accused of controlling a $60-million piracy ring that authorities say may have shipped at least 15,000 fake software disks a month worldwide for four years. The couple has pleaded not guilty. Mamta Dhurandhar has posted bail and is wearing an electronic monitoring device, prosecutors said. Bail is expected to be set for Atul Dhurandhar later this week. Atul Dhurandhar’s attorney declined to comment and Mamta Dhurandhar’s attorney was unavailable.