Two held after statewide raids to detect spurious drugs

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested owners of two Ayurvedic pharmaceutical companies in Nagpur for manufacturing adulterated and spurious drugs.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested owners of two Ayurvedic pharmaceutical companies in Nagpur for manufacturing adulterated and spurious drugs.

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Rishi Raj Singh, joint director (Zone-1), CBI, said Gurbachan Singh, proprietor of JP Herbal Pharmacy and Navin Gadekar, owner of Nalini Ayurvedic were arrested last Friday.

The CBI team found that these companies were adulterating the ayurvedic drugs with steroids and allopathic medicines that are not permitted in the herbal preparations. “They were cheating the public,” said Singh.

The CBI has also registered cases against unknown public servants under Drugs and Cosmetic Act and Prevention of Corruption Act.

On May 13, the CBI conducted surprise checks at Jagjivan Ram Hospital in Mumbai Central and Western Railway Hospital,
Bandra, in connection with the supply of substandard drugs.

During check at Jagjivan Ram Hospital, the CBI found a file containing copies of letters addressed to Medical Director (of the hospital) written by Chief Medical Director, Western Railway, Mumbai. The letters asked the hospital to replace some drugs of certain manufacturing companies as they were found to be substandard.

The CBI collected 23 drug samples of 14 manufacturing companies and sent them for chemical analysis test.

During the check at Western Railway Hospital, 12 samples of drugs were collected.

Following this, the CBI had conducted raid on Central Government Health Scheme medical store at Sion Koliwada on Wednesday.

The CBI had collected 12 samples of medicines and sent for chemical analysis test.