In a significant crackdown on the proliferation of counterfeit medicines, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) offices from Pune, Thane, and Nandurbar have collaboratively dismantled an inter-state network involved in the illicit manufacturing and distribution of spurious drugs. The operation, conducted between January 23 and February 14, 2025, led to the seizure of counterfeit Ayurvedic products, including churna and chyawanprash, valued at approximately ₹12.47 lakh.
The illicit operation's modus operandi involved producing dummy Ayurvedic products designed to mimic genuine items. These spurious drugs and health supplements were misleadingly labeled, contravening The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, by making unfounded claims of magical properties.
The investigation commenced on January 23, when FDA officials, acting on credible intelligence, raided the premises of M/s Tykhe Healthcare India Pvt. Ltd. in Kondhwa, Pune. This company had been operational for the past 18 months. During the raid, authorities confiscated various Ayurvedic and Unani medicines valued at ₹6 lakh. Additionally, samples of ten different medicines and supplements were sent to laboratories for detailed analysis.
GD Hukare, Joint Commissioner of FDA (Drug) for Pune, brought to light a crucial finding at the Kondhwa raid: some of the products carried labels stating they were produced by M/s Sufi Centre at Bhiwandi, Thane. On coordination with the Thane FDA office, it was found that no approval had been given to M/s Sufi Centre to produce these drugs. This discovery reaffirmed that the medicines were spurious and were being supplied from the Pune plant. Investigations further led to the tracing of the source of these fake medicines to a manufacturing plantin Maloni village, Nandurbar district.
GD Hukare, Joint Commissioner of FDA (Drug) for Pune, brought to light a crucial finding at the Kondhwa raid: some of the products carried labels stating they were produced by M/s Sufi Centre at Bhiwandi, Thane. On coordination with the Thane FDA office, it was found that no approval had been given to M/s Sufi Centre to produce these drugs. This discovery reaffirmed that the medicines were spurious and were being supplied from the Pune plant. Investigations further led to the tracing of the source of these fake medicines to a manufacturing plantin Maloni village, Nandurbar district.
In coordination with FDA inspectors from Dhule and Nandurbar, a raid was carried out on this plant, which was discovered to be running without a valid license. The unit was engaged in producing churna, chyawanprash, and other medicines under the guise of an FSSAI license, which is not valid for the manufacture of Ayurvedic and Unani medicines. The raid resulted in the seizure of medicines and machinery worth ₹6.47 lakh. Joint Commissioner Hukare underlined the seriousness of the situation, as the spurious medicines were being falsely labeled, with possible health implications for the consumers. He informed that the probe is in progress, with an attempt to check if these fake drugs have been supplied to other parts of Maharashtra.
Reports from the laboratories are pending, and the next course of action will depend on the outcome. This operation underscores the FDA's unwavering commitment to safeguarding public health by eradicating the menace of counterfeit medicines. Consumers are urged to remain vigilant, purchase medicines only from authorised dealers, and report any suspicious products to the authorities promptly.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Pragati Sakhuja/MSM)