The Cyber Cell of the Delhi Police Crime Branch has exposed and dismantled a highly organised network involved in the illegal production and nationwide circulation of counterfeit Schedule-H medicines, seizing fake pharmaceutical products valued at approximately ₹2.3 crore.
These prescription-only drugs were being passed off as authentic branded medicines, posing a grave threat to public health and patient safety.
In connection with the racket, police arrested two key operatives—Gaurav Bhagat, a resident of Meerpur Hindu Village in Loni, Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh), and Shree Ram, also known as Vishal Gupta, who lives in Nirmal Vihar, Sabhapur, Delhi.
The crackdown was carried out by a Crime Branch team led by Inspector Manjeet Kumar, under the close supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police Anil Sharma.
Officials said the operation followed specific and reliable intelligence, backed by continuous field surveillance and technical monitoring over a sustained period.
Acting on the inputs, the police first conducted a raid at Teliwara in Sadar Bazar, one of Delhi’s largest wholesale hubs for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
During the search, officers recovered large consignments of counterfeit Schedule-H ointments, which were ready for distribution across different markets.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Aditya Gautam said the seized fake medicines included well-known brands such as Betnovate-C and Clop-G, commonly prescribed for skin disorders, allergies and sports-related injuries.
He warned that the circulation of such spurious drugs could have resulted in serious medical complications for unsuspecting users, as their composition and safety standards were completely unverified.
Further investigation, supported by technical analysis and follow-up intelligence, led the Crime Branch to a fully operational illegal manufacturing unit located at Meerpur Hindu Village in Loni, Ghaziabad.
From this site, police recovered finished counterfeit medicines, empty and printed packaging material, raw chemical substances, and manufacturing equipment, indicating large-scale production.
The seizure was carried out in the presence of Drug Inspectors and authorised representatives of the concerned pharmaceutical companies.
Drug Inspectors from the North and Central Zones of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, along with company officials, conducted on-the-spot verification and collected samples.
Their inspection confirmed that the seized medicines were entirely fake, had not been produced or supplied by the original manufacturers, and violated all regulatory norms.
Investigators also established that the accused did not possess any valid licence for the manufacture, storage, or sale of pharmaceutical products, making the entire operation illegal from start to finish.
A case was formally registered on December 12 at the Crime Branch police station under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)—Sections 318(4), 336, 340 and 61(2)—as well as Sections 18A(ii), 18(c), 27B(ii) and 27C of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
The total haul from the operation includes around 1,200 tubes of counterfeit Betnovate-C ointment, more than 2,700 tubes of fake Clop-G, over 3,700 tubes of spurious skin-shine ointment, nearly 22,000 empty counterfeit Clop-G tubes ready for filling, over 350 kilograms of illegally prepared ointment, along with large quantities of chemicals and specialised machinery.
Police officials said additional raids are underway to break the entire supply network linked to the racket, including retail sellers, delivery agents, wholesalers and distributors who facilitated the spread of these fake medicines.
Authorities confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and further arrests are likely as the full scope of the operation comes to light.
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