A major racket involving the supply of counterfeit liver medicines by floating fake firms has been uncovered in the Muradnagar police station area of Ghaziabad district, officials said on Thursday. Acting on a complaint filed by reputed pharmaceutical company Himalaya Wellness (India), the police have registered an FIR and launched a detailed investigation. Preliminary findings indicate that forged GST registration numbers and fake drug licences were used to circulate spurious medicines in the market.
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Alert Raised Over Fake Liv-52 Tablets
The case came to light after a medical store owner in Aligarh raised an alert with the manufacturer over suspected counterfeit Liv-52 DS tablets. According to officials, the retailer became suspicious after noticing irregularities in the packaging, print quality, and overall appearance of the medicine, following which the company was informed.
Samples of the tablets were subsequently sent to the company’s laboratory for examination. After detailed testing, the company confirmed that the medicines were entirely counterfeit and did not match the original formulation or manufacturing standards.
Fake Firm and Transport Trail Identified
During follow-up inquiries, the medical store owner disclosed that the medicines had been supplied by a firm named NP Trading Company, which claimed to be operating from Adarsh Colony in Muradnagar. Police officials said the consignment was transported through Harish Transport Corporation.
Following the laboratory confirmation, representatives of the pharmaceutical company visited Muradnagar to verify the credentials and location of the supplier. However, officials said that no firm or pharmaceutical unit existed at the address mentioned in the records of NP Trading Company. Repeated attempts to contact the purported owner of the firm were unsuccessful.
Forged Documents and Shell Companies Found
A closer scrutiny of the documents submitted by the accused revealed that the supply of counterfeit medicines was facilitated using fake GST registration details and forged drug licences. Investigators found that there was no valid drug licence issued in the name of the firm, nor any official record supporting its operations.
Officials said the findings point towards an organised network involved in the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit medicines, potentially operating through multiple shell firms across different localities. Preliminary investigations suggest that areas such as Adarsh Nagar, Malik Nagar, and Gandhi Colony have earlier witnessed the operation of similar fake firms used to channel spurious drugs into the supply chain.
Past Incidents and Ongoing Crackdowns
Authorities noted that this was not the first such incident in the region. During earlier probes related to illegal cough syrup distribution, licences of 15 firms were cancelled after it was discovered that they were registered at fictitious addresses where no pharmaceutical activity was taking place. In a separate case last month, a fake drug manufacturing unit was also busted in the Loni area during a joint operation.
Investigation Underway Across Multiple Districts
In the present case, officials confirmed that cases have been registered against nine persons so far, while the role of several other suspects is being examined. The police and the drug control department are jointly investigating how long the racket has been operational and the geographical spread of the counterfeit medicines.
Police officials said efforts are under way to trace the entire supply chain, including identifying the source of the fake drugs and determining which districts received the counterfeit consignments. The role of transporters, distributors, and wholesalers is also under scrutiny, and questioning of logistics operators linked to the supply is expected as part of the probe.
Officials Pledge Stringent Action
Authorities stated that the FIR has been registered on the basis of the company’s complaint and that multiple teams are conducting a detailed investigation into all aspects of the case. Strict legal action will be taken against all individuals found involved in the racket, officials said.
The incident once again highlights the growing threat posed by counterfeit medicines and the serious risks such illegal practices present to public health. Health authorities and law enforcement agencies have urged citizens, pharmacists, and medical practitioners to promptly report any suspicious drugs or suppliers, stressing that timely information can help dismantle such networks before they cause widespread harm.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
