Gurgaon: A joint investigation into the circulation of counterfeit blood pressure medicine has led to the detection of an unlicensed wholesale drug stockist in Delhi.Authorities on Tuesday seized stocks of 323 varieties of allopathic medicines along with suspected fake Telma AM tablets.The action followed a late-night search at Shree Balaji Pharmaporium in Okhla by a joint team of the city’s food and drug administration (FDA), Delhi drugs control department (DCD) and city police.During the inspection, officials found that the wholesale establishment was operating without a valid drug licence. Delhi DCD seized stocks of allopathic medicines from the premises under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.The team also recovered 560 more strips of suspected spurious Telma AM, a commonly prescribed antihypertensive medicine, from the premises. The search continued till around 2.10am on Tuesday.Meanwhile, the police remand of Suvrat Dwivedi in the counterfeit Telma AM case was on Wednesday extended for three days.City drug control officer Dr Suresh Kumar said, “The investigation revealed that the firm did not possess a valid drug licence. Accordingly, stocks of allopathic medicines were seized by Delhi DCD. Further investigation is underway to establish the source of these medicines and trace the entire supply chain.”Officials said the discovery has widened the scope of the investigation beyond counterfeit Telma AM. Investigators are now examining whether medicines stocked at the unlicensed premises were legally procured and whether they were supplied to pharmacies across Delhi, Haryana and neighbouring states.The counterfeit drug racket came to light after FDA officials seized fake Telma AM tablets from a medical store in the city and arrested two people. During interrogation, investigators traced the suspected supply chain to a manufacturer in Roorkee, with the medicines allegedly routed through Lucknow before reaching Delhi, Haryana and other states. Investigators also found that the Okhla-based wholesale supplier from whom the medicines were procured was allegedly operating without the mandatory drug licence.
