Karnataka busts fake drug racket, suspends license of Pfizer depot, 7 other firms
The Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FDA) has cancelled 16 drug licenses and suspended eight others following an investigation into a spurious drug racket uncovered at a farmhouse in Bidadi, Bengaluru South district.
The action follows a raid conducted by the FDA’s Drug Enforcement Wing on August 18, 2026, at a farmhouse in Kurubarakeranahalli, Bidadi.
The operation uncovered an unlicensed pharmaceutical repacking and relabelling unit, with spurious drugs, machinery and printing materials worth around Rs 5.05 crore seized from the premises.
According to the Karnataka government, preliminary findings showed that low-cost medicines sourced from neighbouring states were being repacked into new vials and relabelled as expensive imported medicines. The products were made to resemble premium brands of multinational pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer.
The seized stock included 5,640 vials of CEFIAVIGENT 2.5 Injection, valued at around Rs 3.38 crore, and 1,531 vials of HIZLAM Injectables, worth approximately Rs 52.24 lakh.
The authorities also seized expired medicines valued at around Rs 35 lakh, along with other injections, filling machinery, forged labels and stamps. The seizure included 30 boxes of expired medicines.
The FDA said counterfeit labels used in the operation carried QR and scanning codes, but these were found to be non-functional during verification.MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS FOUND
The preliminary investigation identified several violations related to the manufacture, storage and distribution of medicines without the required license under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
The department also found that generic or lower-cost medicines were being relabelled and presented as premium brands. Authorities said such practices raise concerns over the authenticity, composition and safety of medicines reaching patients.
The presence of expired medicines at the premises also raised concerns over their possible re-entry into the supply chain. The FDA is examining how the medicines were sourced, repackaged and distributed.16 LICENSES CANCELLED, 8 SUSPENDED
As the investigation progressed, the FDA traced retailers and wholesalers involved in the distribution and sale of the spurious medicines.
The department has cancelled 16 drug licenses and suspended eight others as part of the regulatory action.
The license of M/s Pfizer C&F Depot, located at Survey No. 66/3 B2, Kempalinganahalli, Nelamangala Taluk, Bengaluru Rural district, has also been suspended.
The action is part of efforts to contain the distribution network and prevent the seized medicines from reaching pharmacies, hospitals or patients.DRUGS BLOCKED ON FDA PORTAL
The batch numbers and relevant entries of the seized medicines are being blocked on the Karnataka FDA portal to prevent their further sale or distribution.
Samples of the seized products have also been sent for laboratory testing. The tests will examine their chemical composition, sterility and potency and help determine the exact nature of the substances recovered during the raid.
The seized medicines, machinery and printing materials are being documented and will be produced before the Judicial Magistrate First Class court in Bengaluru South for further legal proceedings.SIT PROBES SUPPLY CHAIN
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is continuing the probe to trace the wider supply chain and identify others involved in the operation. The investigation is examining the source of the medicines, their repackaging and relabelling, and their subsequent distribution through retailers and wholesalers.
The Karnataka government said a criminal case has been registered under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Spurious drugs are covered under Section 17B of the Act, while Section 27 provides for stringent punishment for offences involving their manufacture, sale, stocking or distribution.
The government said such offences can attract imprisonment ranging from a minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment, along with fines, depending on the applicable provision and nature of the offence.
The FDA has advised consumers to purchase medicines, particularly life-saving drugs, only from licensed pharmacies and against valid tax invoices.
It has also urged people to report suspicious changes in packaging and non-functional QR or scanning codes on medicine labels to Drug Enforcement authorities.- EndsPublished By: Ritaban MisraPublished On: Sep 20, 2026 21:09 IST
