Haryana Intensifies Crackdown on Spurious Drugs; FDA Gurugram Leads with 12 of State's 16 Arrests
Chandigarh, July 30 - Haryana has emerged as one of the country's most proactive states in combating spurious medicines, with the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Haryana recording 16 arrests in cases related to counterfeit/spurious drugs following intensified enforcement under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Of these, 12 arrests have been made by FDA Gurugram, which has also busted multiple interstate counterfeit medicine syndicates, seized fake medicines worth approximately Rs. 70 lakh, recovered 323 varieties of allopathic medicines from illegal premises.
The intensified enforcement drive has been carried out on the direction of Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Sumita Misra, calling for strict implementation of the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 against manufacturers, distributors and sellers of spurious drugs. Subsequently, Mr. Ripan Mehta, State Drugs Controller, Haryana, issued detailed instructions to all field officers to ensure strict adherence to the provisions of the Act through intelligence-based surveillance, prompt inspections, rigorous sampling, coordinated enforcement actions, and expeditious legal proceedings against offenders.
Since September 2025, the FDA Gurugram enforcement team led by Drugs Control Officer Amandeep Chauhan has unearthed several organized counterfeit medicine networks operating across states through intelligence-based investigations, making Gurugram one of the state's leading enforcement units against spurious medicines.
One of the department's biggest successes came in April 2026, when FDA Gurugram busted a counterfeit Mounjaro Injection racket. Acting on specific intelligence, enforcement teams raided premises in DLF Phase-IV and Sector-69, Gurugram, seizing counterfeit Mounjaro injections worth nearly Rs. 70 lakh. The operation led to the arrest of Avi Sharma and Mujaamil Khan, both of whom are in judicial custody after denial of bail. The Mounjaro injection is used for diabetes and weight loss.
In another significant operation in July 2026, the department dismantled an interstate network dealing in counterfeit Telma-AM tablets. The investigation traced the supply chain to an unlicensed wholesale establishment in Delhi. Accused Suvrat was arrested during the investigation, while disclosures made by him led to the arrest of Zubeir from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. Further investigations revealed one more counterfeit/spurious product Tofajak 5 mg brand of renowned pharmaceutical company of India. During a joint operation by FDA Haryana and FDA Delhi, officials recovered 323 varieties of allopathic medicines including a substantial quantity of suspected spurious anabolic steroid preparations from a residential premises unlicensed premises in Delhi, these steroids were sold to youths at GYMS. The operation continued until 2:10 a.m., reflecting the department's sustained efforts to dismantle illegal pharmaceutical supply chains. The investigations in this matter are in pipeline which may lead to burst the nexus of more people indulged in illegal activities of drugs.
The department has also made substantial progress in the Head On (Somatropin) Injection case. Accused Hari Om has been arrested, while the Punjab and Haryana High Court rejected the anticipatory bail plea of absconding accused Jatin Khanna on July 20, 2026. Further investigation is underway to trace and arrest the absconding accused.
The department's strengthened surveillance system has also produced significant results. Since April 2026, the Government Analyst has declared four additional drug samples as spurious, leading to criminal proceedings under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Acting on one such Government Analyst's report, FDA Haryana seized nearly 23,000 capsules of Rabeprazole Sodium (EC) & Domperidone (SR) Capsules (R Zara-DSR Capsules). Further legal proceedings have been initiated against all persons found responsible. The Rabeprazole and Domperidone capsules are used for the treatment of acid reflux and peptic ulcers.
Dr. Sumita Misra said the Haryana Government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against counterfeit medicines and continues to strengthen surveillance, intelligence gathering and enforcement to safeguard public health. She said every person involved in the manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of spurious medicines would be identified and prosecuted strictly under the law.
The Food and Drugs Administration has advised hospitals, wholesalers, retailers and members of the public to procure medicines only from licensed and authorized sources and immediately report any suspected counterfeit medicines, tampered packaging or illegal pharmaceutical activities. The department reiterated that ensuring the availability of safe, quality and genuine medicines to patients remains its highest priority.