Karnataka FDA busts ₹5 crore spurious medicine racket

The Karnataka Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cancelled 16 drug licences and suspended eight others following the discovery of a large-scale spurious medicine racket. During a raid on a farmhouse in Bidadi, near Bengaluru, officials seized drugs, machinery, and printing materials valued at approximately ₹5.05 crore.

Investigations revealed an unlicensed unit that allegedly repacked low-cost medicines from neighboring states into new vials and applied forged labels to mimic premium products from multinational pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer. A significant portion of the seizure included 5,640 vials of Cefiavigent 2.5 injection, a critical-care medication used in cancer treatment, valued at nearly ₹3.38 crore.

Authorities also recovered expired medicines and counterfeit labels featuring non-functional QR codes. While five individuals have been arrested, the suspected kingpin is believed to be in Azerbaijan. The investigation suggests a nationwide network, with supplies potentially originating from Himachal Pradesh and Telangana. In response, the Karnataka government has formed a special investigation team and requested federal assistance from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation to assess the full extent of the scam.