Last Updated on May 17, 2025 by The Health Master
Counterfeit Drug
The Delhi Drugs Control Department (DCD Delhi) nabs counterfeit drug worth over ₹5 lakh in a raid at a drug wholesaler in Bhagirath Place. Drug Wholesaler Arrested After Complaint from Officials in Mumbai.
According to a complaint received by the Drugs Control Department from the Joint Commissioner (Drugs), Greater Mumbai Division, Food and Drugs Administration, Maharashtra State, during a review of information, it was suspected that counterfeit drugs were being operated by a wholesaler in Delhi.
DCD Delhi officials learned that Vertin 16 mg Tablets (Betahistine Hydrochloride I.P.) and Vertin 8 mg Tablets (Betahistine Hydrochlororide I.P.) were the drugs in question; both are used for the treatment of Meniere’s disease and other related complications of the inner ear.
Team Constituted for Raid
The elite entry team consisted of a battery of seasoned officials from the Delhi Drugs Control Department, constituted by the Drugs Controller of Delhi, Danish Ashraf, IAS.
The team worked under the guidance of K R Chawla, Deputy Drugs Controller, assisted by Deepak Sharma, Assistant Drugs Controller and Drugs Inspectors with vast experience in the field of drugs enforcement: Ravi Kumar Yadav, Sandeep Kumar Sharma, Dr. Shabari Girinath Kala, Manoj Aggarwal and Ranjna Jain.
It was this experienced lot that made the raid successful in terms of professional understanding of proceedings.
Place of Operation
The team raided the premises of Bharat Chitkara, M/s Neelkanth Pharma, Shop No 7, Property No 1500-1502, First Floor, Ward No. II, Bhagirath Palace, Delhi 110006.
A huge quantity of counterfeit drug i.e. Betahistine Tablets I.P. (Vertin Tablets of 16 mg and 8 mg) was recovered.
But upon careful viewing and detailed analysis, the underground operation became exposed.
When research was conducted on the strips—and instead of new serial number strips received from scanning the QR code on the original box packaging—researchers found that every time, the same serial number kept coming up for all the drug strips in question, red flags should have gone up.
But even further, when the drugs were attempted to be viewed under a UV light and nothing showed up except for the supposed drug strips spelling “Abbott“—which is supposed to appear under UV light—it indicated that this was not a registered drug and was, in fact, counterfeit.
Indication of Vertin Tablet
- Tinnitus: Ringing in ears
- Dizziness: Feeling off-balance
- Vertigo: Sensation that the world is spinning
- Loss of Balance: Inability to keep body stable
- Hearing Loss: Reduced ability to hear.
The fake pills purporting to be the cure were blocking blood flow to the brain.
They were increasing excess pressure in the ear, making it much worse.
The legitimate drug was intended to increase blood flow to the brain and decrease excess pressure in the ear to make this chronic condition more bearable.
Therefore, with so many fakes abounding, not only is the cure ineffective, but the good intentions of people are at stake as their health could be put in jeopardy.
Furthermore, the department had a custody order granted by the magistrate, which will ensure that the counterfeit drug are stored in a safe and secure place until further investigation.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Drugs Control Department will continue to investigate the matter since it is hell-bent on punishing all responsible.
Q. What is a counterfeit drug?
A counterfeit drug is a fake drug that can be without any active ingredient, with an incorrect active ingredient, or with an incorrect dosage.
Q. Why is it important to buy drugs from genuine sources?
Buying from licensed chemists and approved wholesale dealers provides you with correct and safe products.
Q. What are the dangers of using counterfeit drugs?
Counterfeit drugs can fail treatments, worsen diseases, and cause negative reactions that can lead to death.
Disclaimer: This article contains information obtained from the source mentioned below. Our team made changes in the format to rewrite and present the news or article in a unique format.
Disclaimer: The information we have provided is for general knowledge and for informational purpose only and it cannot be treated as medical advice. Always consult your doctor for any health issues and / or for the treatment of the same. The Health Master does not claim responsibility for this information.
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