The Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration has cancelled 16 drug licences and suspended eight others following a raid on an alleged fake medicine operation in Bidadi, Bengaluru South district. The action was taken after an inspection by the FDA’s Drug Enforcement Wing on August 18 uncovered an unlicensed pharmaceutical repacking and relabelling operation at a farmhouse in Kurubarakeranahalli.

Officials reported that spurious drugs, machinery, and printing materials worth around ₹5.05 crore were seized during the raid. The inventory of the seized materials was estimated at ₹4.91 crore. A preliminary investigation found that low-cost medicines from neighbouring states were allegedly repacked into new vials and relabelled as expensive life-saving medicines of multinational companies, including products purportedly bearing the 'Pfizer' brand. The counterfeit labels also carried QR codes that were found to be non-functional during verification.

The department warned that the seized products could pose a serious threat to public health, as they may contain no active pharmaceutical ingredients, incorrect ingredients, or potentially harmful substances. A criminal case has been registered under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The investigation has expanded to trace the alleged supply chain and identify other persons involved in the racket. The seized medicines, machinery, and printing materials are being documented and will be produced before the JMFC court in Bengaluru South for further proceedings.

The licence of M/s Pfizer C & F Depot has also been suspended, reportedly due to alleged non-cooperation with the SIT probe. The FDA has blocked the batch numbers of the seized medicines on its portal to prevent further sale or distribution and has sent samples for laboratory analysis to determine their chemical composition, sterility, and potency. The department has advised consumers to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies against valid tax invoices and to report suspicious changes in packaging or non-functional QR codes to the Drug Enforcement authorities.

Health Minister U T Khader stated that stringent action will be taken against those involved based on the SIT report. He mentioned that some officials have also been suspended in connection with the case. The investigation team also seized 30 boxes of expired medicines, raising concerns that expired products may have been reintroduced into the supply chain. The batch numbers and details of the seized medicines are being blocked on the Karnataka FDA portal to prevent their further sale or distribution.

The seized stock included 5,640 vials of CEFIAVIGENT 2.5 Injection valued at ₹3.38 crore, 1,531 vials of HIZLAM Injectables worth ₹52.24 lakh, 30 boxes of expired drugs worth ₹35 lakh, and 470 vials of Xavitaz Inj. valued at ₹27.49 lakh. Officials also recovered 264 vials of EMBLAVEO carrying the name Pfizer Ltd and valued at ₹20.59 lakh, along with 165 vials of Zavicefta Inj., 44 vials each of TIGYNT IV and Tigvnet injections, 190 vials of Aztreo Inj., and 50 vials of Trezam Inj. Several of the seized medicines are injectable antibiotics used to treat serious bacterial infections.

The counterfeit labels carried QR and scanning codes that failed when checked by investigators. The FDA stated that these codes were found to be completely non-functional upon verification. The raid also yielded packaging components, an injection filling machine worth ₹7 lakh, and forged labels and stamps valued at ₹14 lakh. The seizure of expired medicines raised concerns that such stock could have been reintroduced into the supply chain. The suspected drugs could pose a serious health risk because their contents might not match the labels. The department has registered a criminal case and said the suspected medicines fall under the definition of spurious drugs under section 17B, with their manufacture, sale, stocking, and distribution punishable under section 27.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has now widened the probe to trace the supply chain and identify those involved in obtaining, distributing, and selling the medicines. The entire stock of seized spurious drugs, machinery, and printing materials is being officially documented and will be produced before the JMFC Court, Bangalore South, for further legal proceedings. The FDA has asked patients to buy life-saving medicines only from licensed pharmacies against valid tax invoices and to report suspicious packaging or QR codes that fail to scan. What remains unknown is the full extent of the supply chain and the identities of all those involved in the alleged racket.