Expired medicine, products bearing forged MNC labels, injection vials worth ₹3.38 crore seized in Bengaluru

The seizure has brought under scrutiny the alleged practice of repacking lower-cost medicines and relabelling them as expensive products, including carrying the labels of multinational pharmaceutical companies

Updated - August 19, 2026 11:49 am IST - Bengaluru

Officials seized spurious medicines worth over ₹5 crore during a raid on an unlicensed repackaging unit near the Bidadi toll gate in Bengaluru South district on August 18, 2026. The unit was allegedly relabelling counterfeit drugs and passing them as products of multinational pharmaceutical companies. | Photo Credit: Video Grab

The largest component of the stock worth ₹4.91 crore seized from an alleged unlicensed drug repacking unit near Bidadi on August 18 comprised 5,640 vials of CEFIAVIGENT 2.5 Injection, valued at ₹3.38 crore. Bidadi is on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

The seizure, made by the Drug Enforcement Wing of the Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration, has brought under scrutiny the alleged practice of repacking lower-cost medicines and relabelling them as expensive products, including carrying the names of multinational pharmaceutical companies.

Giving details about the inspection, Health Minister U.T. Khader told presspersons on August 19 that the seized CEFIAVIGENT vials listed Eucratia Healthcare Private Limited as the manufacturer. The team also seized 1,531 vials of HIZLAM Injectables, carrying the name of Welcure Remedies, and valued at ₹52.24 lakh.

Another significant seizure was 30 boxes of expired medicine, valued at about ₹35 lakh. The presence of expired stock in the premises is being examined as part of an investigation into whether such medicines were being brought back into the supply chain, Mr. Khader said.

The inventory includes 470 vials of Xavitaz injection, valued at ₹27.49 lakh, and 264 vials of EMBLAVEO, valued at ₹20.59 lakh. The latter carried the name of Pfizer Limited on the label, he said.

Other products seized included 165 vials of Zavicefta injection valued at ₹5.45 lakh; 44 vials of TIGYNT IV valued at ₹2.06 lakh, carrying the name of Stanex Drugs and Chemicals; 44 vials of Tigvnet injection valued at ₹2.06 lakh; 190 vials of Aztreo injection valued at ₹1.48 lakh; and 50 vials of Trezam Injection valued at ₹1 lakh.

Apart from the medicines, the team seized two boxes of packaging material, including stoppers and caps, an industrial injection-filling machine, and other equipment valued at ₹5 lakh, and forged labels, stamps, and printing material estimated at ₹2 lakh.

The total value of the seized material has been estimated at ₹4,91,49,575, according to the department’s inventory.

The Minister said the inspection of the premises — a farmhouse at No. 34, Kurubarakeranahalli, Bidadi, in Bengaluru South district — indicated that the facility was being used for filling and repacking medicines, and subsequently applying labels to pass them off as branded or imported products.

“The officials found that the QR codes on the labels on some of the products were non-functional. The department is examining the labels, batch numbers, and other details to establish the origin and authenticity of the medicines,” the Minister said.

Samples of the seized products have been sent for laboratory analysis to establish their chemical composition, potency and sterility. The test results will be crucial in determining the nature of the alleged violations, and whether the products meet the required pharmaceutical standards, he said.

The department has initiated steps to prevent any of the seized batches from entering the market. The batch numbers and relevant entries are being blocked on the Karnataka FDA portal.

The investigation is being extended beyond the premises to trace the source of the medicines and determine whether any of the relabelled products had already entered the distribution chain.

The preliminary findings indicate that the premises did not have a valid licence for the manufacture, storage, or distribution of drugs. The department is examining the alleged manufacturing and relabelling activity under provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

The Act classifies spurious drugs under Section 17B, with offences involving their manufacture, sale, stocking or distribution attracting stringent punishment under Section 27. Depending on the offence and circumstances, the punishment can range from a minimum of 10 years in prison to life imprisonment.

A police complaint has been lodged with the Tavarekere police, and the regulatory and law-enforcement agencies are co-ordinating the investigation.