In the sealed factory, medicines, including allopathic, Ayurvedic, food supplements, and beauty products, were being manufactured...

Police, acting on a tip-off, raided two factories manufacturing counterfeit medicines in the Pabhat warehouse area of Zirakpur in Punjab, recovering large quantities of “fake” medicines late on the evening of January 15.

As per information received, large quantities of allopathic medicines, Ayurvedic medicines, food supplements, and beauty products were being manufactured in these factories.

Visuals from the site showed visibly unhygienic conditions, with a large quantity of medicines piled up in a corner and several blue containers, usually used to store water or grains at homes, being used at the premises.

After noticing suspicious activities at the factories, the police called officials from the Food Safety Department and the Drug Control Department to inspect the medicines.

The initial investigation revealed that a large consignment of medicines was being prepared in violation of government regulations and that the factories had been operating for several years.

Samples from one of the factories had been collected earlier, and after those samples were found to be substandard, the factory was fined Rs 16 lakh.

During the latest six-hour raid, both departments collected samples of medicines and other products, and one of the two factories was sealed.

In the sealed factory, medicines, including allopathic, Ayurvedic, food supplements, and beauty products, were being manufactured in unsanitary conditions without any valid licence or adherence to quality standards.

IPS officer Preet, speaking to the media at the site of the raid, said, “We received information that illegal medicines were being manufactured at this place, therefore we conducted a raid. During the raid, we learnt that some plants have been set up here. Several machines have been installed, which are manufacturing oils and syrups. Proper packaging units are also present, with labels, and unpacked medicines were also found.”

The police officer pointed out that unpacked (khulli) medicines were found stored in drums with no expiry dates, while during branding, proper manufacturing dates were written on them, thereby endangering lives.

The District Ayurvedic Officer, called to the spot, found that the factory did not meet licensing requirements and will file a complaint with the police, the IPS officer said.

Police added that documentation of the other factory would be checked and, if required, it would also be sealed.

Regarding the supply chain from the factories, she said it would be ascertained during the investigation.

IPS officer Preet further added that the factory authorities could not answer questions posed by government officials, including those related to procurement. No bills were produced, nor could they explain the sources of raw materials, the police said. 

The police officer also said that a "godown" is meant only for storage; however, manufacturing, packaging, and other activities were being carried out there, making the operation highly suspicious.

The collected samples will be sent to Patiala to ascertain whether the medicines were counterfeit. The owner has been identified as Gopal.

Once the sample reports are received, government authorities will take further action, officials said.

(For more news apart from “Punjab: Police Raid Two Factories Making Fake Medicines in Zirakpur; One Sealed," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)