Bengaluru: The fallout from the alleged spurious-drug repacking racket uncovered at a Bidadi farmhouse has widened, with the Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FDA) cancelling 16 drug licences and suspending eight others as its investigation follows the distribution and sale network linked to the seized medicines.
Among the licences suspended is that of the M/s Pfizer C&F Depot at Kempalinganahalli in Nelamangala taluk of Bengaluru Rural district, according to the department’s press note.
The regulatory action follows the August 18 operation in which the FDA’s Drug Enforcement Wing raided a farmhouse at Kurubarakeranahalli in Bidadi, Bengaluru South district, and uncovered what the department described as a large-scale unlicensed pharmaceutical repacking and relabelling operation. Drugs, machinery, labels and other materials valued at ₹5,05,49,575 were seized, according to the department.
The latest action significantly expands the case beyond the farmhouse where the alleged operation was detected, bringing wholesalers and retailers allegedly involved in the distribution and sale of the drugs under regulatory scrutiny.
The FDA said that, as part of the continuing investigation, action had been taken against retailers and wholesalers involved in the distribution and sale of the alleged spurious drugs. Sixteen licences have been cancelled and eight suspended.
16 Drug Licences Cancelled
According to the FDA’s detailed list, licences of the following establishments have been cancelled:
M/s Avesco Healthcare, Patel Layout Road, Bengaluru; M/s Bangalore Speciality Pharma, Ibrahim Sahib Road, Commercial Street, Shivajinagar; M/s Bengalurus Speciality Pharma, Raheja Chambers, Museum Road; M/s Patel Medi Trade, Jayanagar HBCS BDA, Gubbalala; and M/s Rajarajeshwari Pharma, BEML 3rd Stage, Rajarajeshwari Nagar.
The cancellation list also includes M/s N.S. Pharma in Hubballi; M/s Surya Specialty Pharma in Kumaraswamy Layout; M/s SWS Pharma in K.G. Halli; M/s Krupa Healthcare near Minerva Circle; M/s St. Philomena Hospital Drug Centre on Mother Theresa Road; and M/s Sagar Pharma, a division of Sagar Healthcare and Diagnostic Services Pvt Ltd, in Kumaraswamy Layout.
Also facing cancellation are M/s Zymus Pharma on Kanakapura Main Road; M/s Fortune Medical Solutions in BSK 3rd Stage; M/s Excelcare Pharma, a unit of Excelcare Health Alliance Pvt Ltd, in BSK 2nd Stage; M/s Patel Medicals in Padmanabhanagar; and another M/s Bangalore Speciality Pharma establishment at Ramachandra Agrahara near T.R. Mill in Chamarajpet.
The affected establishments include wholesale, retail and combined wholesale-and-retail licences.
Eight Licences Suspended
The FDA has separately suspended eight licences.
They belong to M/s Med Pharma at Doddakammanahalli in Bengaluru; M/s Surya Speciality Hospital in the Bommasandra Industrial Area; M/s Sagar Pharma (Unit-II) at Sagar Hospital in Tilaknagar; M/s Vivantha Pharmaceuticals in Jayanagar; M/s Maruthi Medicals in Vijayanagar; M/s Viva Pharma in Belagavi; M/s Hi-5 Pharma in K.G. Halli; and M/s Pfizer Ltd at Kempanalinganahalli in Nelamangala taluk, Bengaluru Rural district.
The department’s statement specifically identifies the Pfizer facility as a C&F depot whose drug licence has been suspended.
What FDA Says Was Happening at Bidadi Farmhouse
The case originated with a joint inspection conducted by the Drug Enforcement Wing on August 18 following what the department described as credible information.
According to the FDA’s preliminary investigation, low-cost medicines were allegedly procured from neighbouring states, refilled into new vials and relabelled to imitate expensive life-saving brands of multinational pharmaceutical companies.
The department specifically said labels were being used to imitate imported products under the Pfizer brand name. It also said QR or scanning codes printed on the alleged counterfeit labels were found to be non-functional when checked.
These are findings and allegations reported by the FDA as part of its ongoing investigation.
₹5.05 Crore Seizure Includes Thousands of Vials
The seizure inventory provides an indication of the scale alleged by investigators.
The largest item by estimated value was 5,640 vials labelled “CEFIAVIGENT 2.5 INJECTION”, valued by the department at ₹3,38,34,360. The forged label listed Eucratia Healthcare Pvt Ltd as manufacturer.
Another 1,531 vials labelled “HIZLAM INJECTABLES”, with Welcure Remedies listed on the label, were valued at ₹52,24,537. Investigators also seized 30 boxes of expired drugs estimated at ₹35 lakh.
Other seized material included 470 Xavitaz injection vials, 264 EMBLAVEO vials carrying Pfizer Limited on the label, 165 Zavicefta injection vials and quantities of several other injectable products.
The inventory further lists injection-filling machinery valued at ₹7 lakh and bulk forged labels and stamps estimated at ₹14 lakh.
Expired Medicines Also Under Investigation
The FDA said preliminary findings indicated that drugs were being manufactured, stored or distributed without a valid licence and that lower-cost or generic drugs were allegedly being relabelled as premium brands.
The seizure of 30 boxes of expired medicines has also become part of the investigation. The department said this raised concerns that expired drugs were being brought back into the supply chain.
Samples of the seized products have now been sent for laboratory analysis to establish their chemical composition, sterility and potency.
The batch numbers and entries of the seized medicines are also being blocked on the Karnataka FDA portal to prevent further distribution or sale, according to the department.
SIT Tracing Supply Chain
A criminal case has been registered under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The department said spurious drugs fall under Section 17B, while offences involving their manufacture, sale, stocking or distribution attract provisions under Section 27.
The FDA said conviction under the applicable provision can carry punishment ranging from a minimum of 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment to life imprisonment, along with fines.
A Special Investigation Team has extended the probe to trace the supply chain and identify those allegedly involved in the syndicate. The seized stock, machinery and printing materials are being documented for production before the JMFC Court, Bengaluru South.
The widening regulatory action — from the Bidadi farmhouse to cancellation and suspension of licences of wholesalers, retailers and a C&F depot — now places the alleged downstream distribution network at the centre of the continuing investigation.
The FDA has advised patients to buy life-saving medicines only from licensed pharmacies against valid tax invoices and to report suspicious packaging or drug labels carrying QR codes that fail to scan to Drug Enforcement authorities.
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