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Telangana DCA conducts 65 seizures in March related to various offences
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Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
April 21 , 2025
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In the month of March, 2025, the Drugs Control Administration in Telangana carried out 65 seizures related to various offences involving medicines.
Out of the total 65 seizures, 50 cases were related to misleading advertisements and seven for unlicensed stocking and sale of medicines by quacks.
The misleading advertisements were mainly for treatment of diseases and disorders such as diabetes, leucoderma, leprosy, tuberculosis, blood pressure, sterility, rheumatism, kidney stones, disorders of menstrual flow, fever, etc. The drug control department said persons who make misleading advertisements regarding drugs for treatment of these diseases and disorders are punishable under Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, with imprisonment which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.
In the total cases registered in March, three cases were for selling expired drugs and two for selling counterfeit medicines. Besides, one spurious drug racket was busted and two cases were registered against pharmacies for selling medicines without licences.
In the raids conducted in the month, the regulatory sleuths seized stocks of drugs worth Rs. 3 lakhs, and detected many substandard drugs circulating in the state. On the administrative side, the drug testing laboratory under the department reported 15 not of standard quality drugs in the same period.
Sources from the department informed Pharmabiz that the drugs declared as NSQ included antibiotics, antiulcer drugs, antihelminthic and antiprotozoal drugs. The samples failed in the tests for assay, dissolution and description, which may make the medicines ineffective in treating diseases. The samples were tested at the drug testing laboratory in Hyderabad.
Based on intelligence gathered about sale of counterfeit drugs, the DCA officials conducted several raids at dealers’ premises in Hyderabad. In one such raid it was found that counterfeit versions of ‘Montek-LC’ tablet (montelukast sodium and levocetirizine hydrochloride tablets) were circulating in the market. It was claimed to be manufactured by Sun Pharma Laboratories Ltd.
During the raids, the drug inspectors detained the stocks and obtained a comparison statement for the suspected batches from the original manufacturer, Sun Pharma Laboratories Ltd., with the original batches. The manufacturer reported that the batch of ‘Montek-LC’ tablets detained by the DCA was spurious drugs/counterfeit drugs, said the official.
In another raid, the enforcement officials seized stocks of thermolabile (temperature-sensitive) medicines, tetanus vaccine and oxytocin injections, stored at room temperature on racks along with other general drugs. Tetanus vaccine and oxytocin injections should be stored in a refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C to maintain their stability and efficacy. Storage at room temperature causes a loss of potency, and the use of such injections may adversely affect patients' health, because they fail to produce the intended therapeutic effect.
In one raid at a medical shop in Mulugu district, the raiding team found 40 varieties of physician’s samples, all of them were date expired drugs which included antiulcer drugs, cough and cold formulations and antifungal drugs. They were stocked along with saleable drugs on the racks of the medical shop. The officer who shared information with Pharmabiz said stocking physician's samples and expired drugs is a violation of the conditions of the drug license and is an offense punishable under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, which may result in imprisonment for up to two years.
The official said the regulators found large quantities of antibiotics and steroids at the clinics of quacks. According to him, misusing steroids can have serious health consequences, including immune system suppression, hormonal imbalances, muscle and bone weakness, cardiovascular problems, and psychological effects.
It is learnt that the Telangana DCA is planning to initiate actions against wholesalers/distributors who supplied medicines to unqualified persons and unlicensed entities. As per the drug act, supplying drugs to unlicensed entities or unqualified persons is also punishable. It is the duty of the wholesale distributor to ensure that the recipients hold valid drug licenses to stock and sell medicines.
Telangana DCA, seizes, Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, ‘Montek-LC’ tablet.
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