Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FDA) has cancelled 16 drug licences and suspended eight others, including the licence of Pfizer Ltd’s C&F depot in Nelamangala, as its investigation into an alleged spurious medicine network expands. The action follows an August 18 raid at a farmhouse in Kurubarakeranahalli near Bidadi, where officials seized medicines, injection-filling machinery, packaging material and forged labels worth around ₹5.05 crore.
According to the FDA, low-cost medicines allegedly sourced from neighbouring states were being refilled into new vials and relabelled as expensive life-saving medicines, including products made to resemble imported Pfizer medicines. Samples have been sent for laboratory testing, while a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is tracing the wider supply chain. Health Minister U T Khader said the government would act against those involved regardless of their status, while the Pfizer depot’s business transactions have been stopped pending further orders.
₹5 Crore Seizure
The alleged racket came to light after the FDA’s Drug Enforcement Wing raided a farmhouse in Kurubarakeranahalli on August 18. Officials said they found an unlicensed facility allegedly being used to refill medicines into fresh vials and replace their original labels. The seizure included 5,640 vials of CEFIAVIGENT 2.5 Injection valued at around ₹3.38 crore and 1,531 vials of HIZLAM Injectables worth approximately ₹52.24 lakh.
Officials also recovered 30 boxes of expired medicines, an injection-filling machine, packaging material, forged labels and stamps. The FDA said several counterfeit labels carried QR or scanning codes that did not work when checked. Samples of the seized medicines have been sent to laboratories to establish their chemical composition, sterility and potency.
Pfizer Depot Among Eight Firms Facing Action
The FDA has suspended the licences of eight establishments: Med Pharma, Surya Speciality Hospital, Sagar Pharma Unit-II, Vivantha Pharmaceuticals, Maruthi Medicals, Viva Pharma, Hi-5 Pharma and Pfizer Ltd’s C&F depot at Kempalinganahalli in Nelamangala taluk. The department has also cancelled the licences of 16 other retailers and wholesalers allegedly connected to the distribution and sale of the suspected spurious medicines.
Additional Drug Controller Dr Umesh S said business transactions at Pfizer’s depot had been stopped until further orders, although the company’s stocks at the depot had not been seized. The depot reportedly supplies medicines to 14 stockists across Karnataka. According to the department, the action against the depot came after suspected spurious medicines were found carrying Pfizer labels.
SIT Expands Probe
The investigation is now examining how the suspected medicines were procured, repackaged and distributed. Earlier reporting indicated that investigators were looking into a network that may have supplied medicines to more than 90 hospitals and clinics in Bengaluru, with several medical representatives also under scrutiny. Four people were arrested during the initial operation, while subsequent raids led to further arrests.
The suspected drugs include injectable antibiotics used to treat serious bacterial infections, making the authenticity and quality of the medicines particularly important. The Karnataka FDA has frozen the identified batches and is working to prevent their further distribution. Hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare establishments have also been advised not to administer medicines identified in the seizures.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Medicines reach people at some of their most vulnerable moments, making trust, safety and accountability essential across every stage of the pharmaceutical supply chain. The allegations in this case underline why regulators, manufacturers, distributors, pharmacies and healthcare institutions must work together to identify risks quickly while ensuring that investigations are based on evidence and due process.
At the same time, clear communication about affected batches can help protect patients without creating unnecessary panic. As Karnataka’s probe continues, what more can regulators and pharmaceutical companies do to make medicine supply chains safer and more transparent for patients?
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