Lucknow: In a major inter-state enforcement operation against the illegal manufacture and distribution of counterfeit medicines, the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has busted an illegal fake drug manufacturing unit in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, leading to the seizure of counterfeit medicines, machinery and packaging material worth nearly ₹1 crore.
The operation was carried out by a special FSDA team constituted at the Uttar Pradesh headquarters, comprising Drug Inspectors Ashutosh Mishra (Agra), Gaurav Lodhi (Meerut Division and Additional Charge at Headquarters) and Nilesh Sharma (Agra). The raid was conducted in coordination with the Ghaziabad Crime Branch and Uttarakhand FSDA officials.
An FIR has been registered under Sections 316, 318, 319, 276, 277, 270 and 111 (Organised Crime) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Four people have been named in the case. Those arrested include Rajendra Singh alias Arun Tunda, a resident of Roorkee, Haridwar, alleged to be the factory operator and supplier, and Vinay Chand, the owner of the premises and an alleged accomplice. Gaurav Tyagi, another factory operator from Roorkee, and co-operator Vipin Bhatnagar have also been named in the FIR.
The breakthrough came during the investigation into a counterfeit medicine case registered at Aminabad Police Station in Lucknow on July 19, 2026, in which 43 varieties of fake medicines were seized and eight accused booked. Investigators received confidential information linking the seized medicines to a larger organised network operating across states.
Acting on intelligence, the special enforcement team tracked Rajendra Singh alias Arun Tunda to KW Mall near Raj Nagar Extension in Ghaziabad, where he was arrested after questioning. A forensic examination of his mobile phone reportedly revealed WhatsApp images of counterfeit strips of well-known pharmaceutical brands, including packaging with glaring spelling errors in the warning labels—similar to material recovered during the Lucknow raid. Investigators also found photographs and chats related to machinery parts used in manufacturing fake medicines, strengthening evidence against the accused.
Based on information provided during interrogation, the joint team raided an illegal manufacturing unit located at Devipur New Highway Road, Paruwal, East Hope Town, Dehradun. Officials recovered a large quantity of finished and semi-finished counterfeit medicines bearing the labels of reputed pharmaceutical companies, along with printed aluminium foils, wrappers, cartons and packaging materials.
The premises housed industrial-scale equipment, including blister packing machines, strip machines, an inkjet belt printer, air compressor and high-voltage stabiliser. Authorities also seized semi-finished tablets and capsules, trial packaging material and master cartons printed with the branding of several popular and high-value allopathic medicines, indicating that the counterfeit products were ready for distribution in the pharmaceutical market.
The seizure included counterfeit packaging materials resembling those of widely used medicines such as Clavam 625 and Razo-D Capsules, along with printed cartons of other leading pharmaceutical brands. Officials estimated the total value of the seized medicines, machinery and packaging material at around ₹1 crore.
Since the unit was allegedly operating without a valid drug manufacturing licence, it was found to be in violation of Sections 18 and 27 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Uttarakhand drug inspectors collected five medicine samples for laboratory testing, while the remaining stock, machinery, foils, tablets and capsules were sealed at the site.
The Uttar Pradesh FSDA Commissioner said the department is following a zero-tolerance policy against the manufacture, storage and sale of counterfeit medicines, in line with directions from the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister. The Commissioner said special enforcement teams would continue to dismantle the entire network involved in the counterfeit drug trade, irrespective of where its links are found.
