Ahmedabad Crime Branch Arrests 3 in Counterfeit Blood Pressure Medicine Case

Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad City Crime Branch has arrested three persons for their alleged involvement in manufacturing, procuring and distributing counterfeit medicines used to treat high blood pressure, officials said on Thursday.

The accused have been identified as Dashil, 39, of Ahmedabad; Devendra, 39, of Lucknow; and Umang, 34, of Lucknow. They were arrested on August 26 at around 9:45 pm in a joint operation by the Crime Branch and the Gujarat Food and Drugs Control Administration.

The case came to light after JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd complained to the Gujarat Food and Drugs Control Administration on August 19 about the circulation and sale of counterfeit NICARDIA RETARD 10 (Nifedipine Sustained Release Tablets IP 10 mg) bearing Batch No. ACG25007. The batch was manufactured in June 2025 and was due to expire in May 2028.

The company later approached Ahmedabad City Police, following which Crime Branch and Food and Drugs Control Administration teams were formed to trace the source of the counterfeit medicines.

During the investigation, counterfeit stocks were traced to medical stores in Ahmedabad and other parts of Gujarat. Police found that the medicines were supplied through Parshva Medical Agency in Paldi, Ahmedabad, and originated from Sena Medical in Lucknow. The probe also uncovered links to Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Police seized 30 strips of counterfeit NICARDIA RETARD 10 from Kishan Medical Store in Nadiad. Additional quantities were recovered from Navkar Medical Agency and Mahadev Medical Agency in Bhuj. The supply chain of the Kutch stock was traced to AVR Medicose in Jaipur.

According to police, the accused allegedly manufactured and packaged the counterfeit tablets to closely resemble the genuine product, including its name, labelling and batch details.

Police alleged that Dashil procured and supplied the counterfeit medicines to sub-distributors, while Devendra and Umang procured them at heavily discounted prices and supplied them to Gujarat.

A case has been registered at DCB Police Station in Ahmedabad under Sections 276, 277, 316(4), 336(2), 336(3), 338, 339, 340(2), 341(1), 111, 49 and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

The investigation is underway to identify other manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, medical agencies and individuals allegedly linked to the interstate network. Police teams have been deployed in Jaipur, Lucknow, Ahmedabad and other districts, with further arrests and recoveries expected.

Authorities have appealed to medical stores, agencies, hospitals and patients who may have purchased or received the specified counterfeit medicine to contact the Ahmedabad City Crime Branch.

DeshGujarat