HYDERABAD: In a major safety scare, the Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) arrested Manish Kumar, partner and competent person at Arvind Pharma Distributors, Gautam Colony, Gandhinagar. He was caught selling counterfeit batches of Levipil 500 (levetiracetam 500 mg), a critical anti‑epileptic medication, falsely labelled as being produced by Sun Pharma Laboratories Ltd. The seizure followed coordinated raids in Hyderabad’s Kavadiguda region and Karimnagar on July 4–5, where regulators confiscated fake tablets marked Batch No. GTF1540A, manufactured in May 2024, yet expired in April 2026 .
After confirmation from Sun Pharma that these were counterfeit, the court remanded Mr. Kumar to judicial custody until July 23; he is now detained in Chanchalguda Jail awaiting trial . DCA Director General, Shahnawaz Qasim, emphasised a zero‑tolerance policy toward spurious drugs, warning of legal action against any dealer or vendor trafficking counterfeit medicines .
Public Health Hazard as Regulatory Gaps Exploited
Fake medications like Levipil compromise treatment regimens for epilepsy patients, risking seizure control failure or serious side effects. Health experts warn that counterfeit drugs—often lacking active ingredients or containing unsafe additives—can provoke drug resistance, exacerbating medical crises . The DCA’s statement underlined that prompt reporting and vigilant verification are critical to preventing harm from fake pharmaceuticals .
Deeper Investigation and Future Safeguards
Tracing the Supply Chain
Authorities are tracking the source of counterfeit Levipil pills, scrutinising supplier networks and identifying medical outlets involved. The use of forged packaging and misrepresentation under trusted brands highlights systemic vulnerabilities. Regulators plan further raids and a crackdown on illegal distributors across Telangana .
Strengthening Regulatory Checks
To curb such malpractice, experts call for tighter supply‑chain oversight, from drug manufacture to the point of sale. They advocate stricter licensing, random batch testing, and mandatory digital trail mechanisms such as serialisation and QR‑code scanning at pharmacies to secure medicine authenticity.
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Implications for Patient Safety and Industry Confidence
As investigations unfold, trust in Hyderabad’s pharmaceutical retail sector hangs in the balance. With medication integrity compromised, patients—especially those with chronic conditions—face uncertainty. The DCA’s strong actions aim not only to penalise offenders but to reassure the public and deter future incidents. Still, industry stakeholders warn that broader reforms are essential to prevent life-threatening lapses in pharmaceutical regulation.
About the Author – Sahhil Taware is a B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, with a keen interest in corporate law and tech-driven legal change.