Bogus hypertension drug racket busted; 2 distributors held

Kalyan: The Manpada police have busted a major counterfeit medicine racket involving fake supplies of Telma AM, a widely prescribed drug used for the treatment of hypertension.Two pharmaceutical distributors have been arrested from Dombivli and Mumbai, while police teams are continuing efforts to trace those responsible for manufacturing the spurious tablets.
According to investigators, the accused were allegedly selling counterfeit Telma AM tablets designed to closely resemble the original product marketed by Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited using same label.The case came to light after company representatives received information that bogus medicines were being circulated in the Thane region under their brand name. The matter was subsequently reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Maharashtra for verification.During the preliminary inquiry, FDA officials found serious discrepancies in the seized samples. Although the counterfeit tablets reportedly contained similar ingredients to the original formulation, their quality and pharmacological performance were found to be suspect. Laboratory analysis revealed that the fake tablets took longer than standard to dissolve in the body, raising concerns about delayed therapeutic action. Experts warned that such deviations could compromise blood pressure control and pose significant health risks to patients, particularly those with unstable hypertension.FDA inspector Rajshree Shinde initiated an investigation following the complaint. A search conducted at Shree Ram Pharma, a Dombivli-based distributor, led to the seizure of 1,000 strips of the suspected medicine, which were sent for laboratory testing. The analysis confirmed that the tablets were counterfeit. Based on these findings, the FDA lodged a formal complaint with the police.API Mahesh Ralebhat, the investigating officer from Manpada police station, arrested distributor Pankaj Upadhyaye. During questioning, Upadhyaye claimed that he had procured 6,000 strips of the medicine from a Bihar-based company. However, police said the claim was false and alleged that a fake invoice had been generated in the name of that company. Further investigation indicated that the medicines were sourced from another Mumbai-based distributor, identified as Vivek Rai, who has also been arrested.Deputy Commissioner of Police Atul Zende (Zone III) stated that the investigation is being expanded to identify the manufacturing unit behind the counterfeit drug. He said police have secured custody of the accused stockists and are working to dismantle the entire network.Authorities suspect that the racket may have links across multiple states, and inquiries are underway to establish the origins of the raw materials, packaging, and distribution channels.The accused have been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including Sections 318(4), 336(3), 340(2), 277, 278, and 3(5), along with Sections 18(a)(i) read with 17(B), punishable under 27(b) and 27(c) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Rules 1945.Girish Mishra, a medicine expert with over four decades of experience, said shrinking margins in the pharmaceutical trade could be contributing to such malpractices. He noted that heavy discounting by online and offline pharmacies has severely impacted stockists' profitability, and in the pursuit of cheaper supplies and higher returns, some distributors involved into purchasing with dubious manufacturers. He cautioned that counterfeit medicines pose a serious threat to patient safety and called for stricter regulatory enforcement.