Uttar Pradesh police arrested five men in Ghaziabad for allegedly operating a multi-state counterfeit medicine racket, seizing around 50,000 fake Himalaya Liv-52 tablets, packaging materials and a car, as the investigation intensifies to trace wider distribution networks.
Ghaziabad’s rural police, acting on a complaint from Himalaya Wellness Company that fake Liv-52 tablets were circulating in western Uttar Pradesh, arrested five suspects on 8 February 2026 after a raid in Muradnagar.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rural) Surendra Nath Tewari, the informant tip led investigators to seize approximately 50,000 counterfeit tablets, 500 branded wrappers, 1,200 caps and containers, and a WagonR vehicle allegedly used in logistics and distribution.
The accused have been identified as Mayank Aggarwal (41), described by police as the alleged mastermind; Tushar Thakur (25), a paramedical student; Akash Thakur (28); Nitin Tyagi (44) all residents of Ghaziabad; and Anoop Garg (40) from Delhi.
An FIR has been registered at Muradnagar police station under multiple provisions, including cheating, forgery, adulteration of drugs and food, and sections of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Copyright Act for replicating branded packaging.
Police have formed special teams to apprehend other suspects named during questioning.
How the Counterfeit Network Worked and Where It Spread
Police investigations revealed that the counterfeit operation was active for nearly four months and extended beyond Ghaziabad into Aligarh, Mathura, Bijnor, Agra, Meerut and Shamli with fake products reaching smaller pharmacies across these regions.
Investigators believe tablets were manufactured in parts of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, with packaging sourced from Meerut, where molds and printing closely mimicked genuine Liv-52 products, increasing the risk of consumers mistaking the spurious tablets for authentic medicine.
Police said the economics of the racket helped it thrive: fabricating one box of counterfeit tablets cost roughly ₹35–₹40, while these were supplied to shops at ₹110–₹115. Genuine Liv-52 retails at about ₹280 per box, making the illegal products attractive to retailers seeking higher margins despite the grave public health risks.
DCP Tewari emphasised that the investigation is ongoing: “Our investigation is underway, we are looking into other individuals involved, and action will follow accordingly.”
Public Health at Stake: Counterfeit Medicines and Consumer Risk
Counterfeit medicines are a pervasive threat in India’s pharmaceutical landscape, and the Liv-52 bust underscores how public health can be jeopardised when illicit products enter legitimate supply chains. Liv-52, a widely recognised herbal liver formulation, is commonly used to support liver health and manage conditions such as hepatitis and fatty liver disease.
Because patients often purchase such products without rigorous medical oversight, the risk of consuming substandard, adulterated or hazardous counterfeit tablets is high.
Experts and consumer advocates warn that fake medicines may contain incorrect dosages, harmful substances or no active ingredients at all, potentially leading to treatment failure or worsening health conditions.
Despite regulatory frameworks intended to police drug quality, unscrupulous networks exploit demand and price sensitivity in smaller towns and rural markets, where enforcement is uneven.
Following the crackdown, authorities have urged retailers and consumers to exercise vigilance. Police and regulators advise verifying packaging details such as batch numbers, manufacturing and expiry dates, clear logos and holograms and purchasing only from licensed pharmacies to reduce the likelihood of encountering spurious products.
Regulatory Response and Broader Implications
The Liv-52 counterfeit case has renewed calls for stronger oversight across pharmaceutical production and distribution networks. While the Drugs and Cosmetics Act provides mechanisms for penalising adulteration and forgery, experts say implementation gaps allow networks like this to persist.
The case also reflects the interconnected nature of counterfeit operations that span state borders, from production hubs in Haryana to distribution across Uttar Pradesh.
Regulators and industry bodies have urged enhanced coordination between law enforcement, drug inspectors and pharmaceutical companies to track suspicious consignments quickly and conduct frequent market inspections. They also recommend consumer education campaigns so buyers can distinguish between genuine and fake products and report anomalies swiftly.
Earlier crackdowns, such as on fake cancer drugs and other adulterated medicines in the Delhi-NCR region, highlight how counterfeit medical products from life-saving therapies to everyday supplements can infiltrate supply chains if vigilance lapses.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Ghaziabad counterfeit Liv-52 bust is more than a crime story it is a cautionary tale about the fragility of trust in our healthcare ecosystem. When counterfeit medicines proliferate, they erode confidence, endanger patients and exploit vulnerabilities in both regulation and commerce.
Public safety demands not only robust enforcement but shared responsibility among manufacturers, sellers and consumers.
For consumers, awareness and caution are vital: understanding product authenticity indicators, trusting licensed sources, and resisting offers that seem “too good to be true” can help protect individual health and weaken the appeal of shady networks. Regulators and police, meanwhile, must continue to dismantle such operations and strengthen systemic loopholes that allow them to flourish.
Equally important is fostering transparent dialogue that brings community voices, medical professionals and policymakers together in pursuit of safer markets.
