Following the alleged seizure of 180 kg of banned narcotics by the Punjab Police's from here last week, the food and drug administration (FDA) department, Haryana, has sealed three suspected pharmaceutical units.
The father-son duo who owns the firms - Prime Labs and two units in the name of Pioneer Pharmaceuticals - is wanted by the Punjab Police for their alleged role in a massive drug trade. They are on the run.
Karnal senior drug inspector Padam Singh Rathee told Hindustan Times on Sunday that the units were sealed on Saturday evening and the owners had been directed to suspend manufacturing till further orders.
He clarified that the exercise to seal the factories was on the basis of media reports quoting top police officials of Punjab about the alleged recovery of illegal drugs from here.
Confirming that the units had valid licences to manufacture drugs, Rathee clarified that the FDA was unaware of any recovery made by the Punjab Police.
"Till date, the Punjab Police have not involved the FDA in the investigation. Neither were we invited to join at the time of raid on Karnal firms nor any information was shared on the illegal seizures," Rahtee said, adding that the Patiala police authorities had refused to share information on the issue and informed the FDA that a team of the Punjab Police would visit Karnal soon.
{{/usCountry}}"Till date, the Punjab Police have not involved the FDA in the investigation. Neither were we invited to join at the time of raid on Karnal firms nor any information was shared on the illegal seizures," Rahtee said, adding that the Patiala police authorities had refused to share information on the issue and informed the FDA that a team of the Punjab Police would visit Karnal soon.
{{/usCountry}}The FDA official said the accused had not approached the authorities to prove their legal position.
The Centre had, in May, banned manufacturing, sale and purchase of Parvon Spas, while the Punjab Police claimed to have seized a huge cache of powder and capsules from the two units in Karnal last week.
Rathee said that earlier the accused had a licence to manufacture Parvon Spas and it was a matter of investigation to check the legalities on various aspects on the banned substance. He said no signboards were found at the entrance to the units, which the accused might have removed to dodge public.
"Once we get official inputs from the Punjab Police, we will inquire into malpractices, if any, by the Karnal-based accused. We may suspend or terminate the licence of the drug manufacturing units if anomalies are put on our record," he added.