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Delhi Police Crime Branch has dismantled a major interstate operation involved in the illegal production and nationwide distribution of counterfeit prescription ointments, recovering fake medicines and raw material worth over two crore rupees and arresting two accused linked to a well organised public health threat.
Two accused arrested for producing and selling counterfeit medicines.
New Delhi: In a significant action against the illegal pharmaceutical trade, the Delhi Police Crime Branch has uncovered an extensive racket engaged in manufacturing and selling counterfeit prescription medicines. The operation led to the recovery of fake ointments and related material valued at more than two crore rupees, highlighting the growing challenge of spurious drugs entering the healthcare supply chain.
During the investigation, police arrested two individuals believed to be central figures in the operation. One of the accused, Gaurav Bhagat, is a resident of Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, while the second accused, Shree Ram also known as Vishal Gupta, hails from the Sabhapur area of northeast Delhi. Investigators believe the duo played a crucial role in both production and distribution of the counterfeit medicines.
According to senior police officials, the accused were producing and selling counterfeit versions of well known prescription ointments commonly prescribed for skin infections, allergies and sports related injuries. These medicines fall under Schedule H drugs and are meant to be sold only under medical supervision. By passing off fake products as genuine branded medicines, the accused posed a serious risk to public health and patient safety.
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The operation began after the Crime Branch received specific intelligence inputs. Acting on this information, a team conducted a raid in Teliwara area of Sadar Bazar, one of the largest wholesale markets for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics in the country. During the raid, officers recovered a large quantity of counterfeit Schedule H ointments, confirming the presence of an organised illegal supply network.
Further technical analysis and follow up intelligence helped police trace the source of the counterfeit products to a manufacturing unit operating from Meerpur Hindu village in the Loni area of Ghaziabad. A detailed search of the premises led to the recovery of fake medicines, large quantities of raw chemicals, packaging material, empty tubes bearing forged brand labels and machinery used for mixing, filling and sealing ointments.
Drug inspectors from the North and Central Zones of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh conducted on site inspections along with authorised representatives of the concerned pharmaceutical companies. Samples drawn from the seized stock were tested and verified. The inspection confirmed that the medicines were counterfeit and had not been manufactured or supplied by the original companies.
Investigators also established that the accused were operating without any valid licence to manufacture, store or sell pharmaceutical products. This violation further strengthened the case against them under criminal law as well as under provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
The seizure included approximately 1200 tubes of spurious Betnovate C ointment, more than 2700 tubes of fake Clop G, over 3700 tubes of counterfeit Skin Shine ointment, nearly 22000 empty fake Clop G tubes, more than 350 kilograms of semi prepared ointment, along with chemicals and specialised manufacturing equipment.
An FIR has been registered at the Crime Branch police station on December 12 under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Police have stated that further investigation is underway to identify the entire supply chain, including wholesalers, distributors, transport handlers and retailers involved in circulating the fake medicines across different states.
