Karnataka authorities seize Rs 5 crore in counterfeit medicines

Authorities in Karnataka have dismantled a major spurious drug racket operating out of a farmhouse in Bidadi, Bengaluru South district. The Drug Enforcement Wing of the FDA seized counterfeit medicines valued at approximately Rs 4.91 to 5 crore during a raid following a tip-off.

Investigations revealed that the unlicensed facility was used to procure low-cost medications from other states, which were then refilled into new vials and relabelled to mimic expensive brands from multinational pharmaceutical corporations. Officials noted that some of the faked products included critical ICU medications, where high-cost injections were allegedly being sold to hospitals for a fraction of their actual price.

Commissioner Srinivas K stated that the spurious drugs contained no active medicine, incorrect ingredients, or harmful substances, and featured non-functional scanning codes. The seizure included thousands of vials of various injections, expired drugs, packaging materials, and forgery equipment. One individual, identified as Prabhudev, has been arrested.

Health Minister U. T. Khader has called for an interstate probe, citing potential links to fake manufacturing units in Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, and other regions. The investigation is ongoing to determine the origin of the forged labels and stickers.