A massive counterfeit drug racket has been exposed in Bareilly, shaking the pharmaceutical supply chain of the region. Wholesale drug dealers in the district were found purchasing large consignments of fake medicines from Agra-based Bansal Medical Agency and Hey Maa Medicals — and shockingly, distributing them to unsuspecting patients.
Following concrete evidence, authorities have launched a crackdown, taking major action against four wholesale firms, including Gunina Pharmaceuticals.
Case Filed Against Gunina Pharmaceuticals; Licenses Suspended
After the Drug Department confirmed violations, Drug Inspector Anamika Jain filed a formal case against Gunina Pharmaceuticals in the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court. The firm allegedly defied official orders and returned large quantities of counterfeit medicines to the Agra supplier in an attempt to evade action.
Meanwhile:
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Lucknow Drug Agency – License suspended for 30 days
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Madhav Medical Agency – License suspended for 30 days
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Sahni Medical Store – License suspended for 7 days
All three have been barred from purchasing or selling medicines.
Investigations against 19 additional firms are still underway, signalling that the counterfeit network may be far wider than initially believed.
Fake Bills, Fake Medicines, Real Danger
Drug Inspector Rajesh Kumar’s investigation revealed that Lucknow Drug Agency purchased huge stocks of fake medicines and then issued fake retail bills. When authorities contacted the retailers listed, they denied any such transactions — confirming deliberate fraud.
Madhav Medical Agency was caught selling counterfeit Allegra-120 and other medicines in the local market, while Sahni Medical Store was also found stocking fake pharmaceuticals sourced from Agra-based suppliers.
High-End Medicines Found Counterfeit
A wide range of life-saving and frequently used drugs was recovered during raids on Gunina Pharmaceuticals, including:
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Allegra-120 (Sikkim-based Sanofi) — 2,600 tablets, batch number 5-NG001
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Udiliv (Abbott, Mumbai)
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Atarax, Janumet, Jalra, and other anti-diabetic, antibiotic, and anti-allergic medicines
The presence of fake variants of such widely prescribed brands has alarmed authorities and health experts.
AI-Generated Fake QR Codes: High-Tech Counterfeiting
In a major revelation, Assistant Commissioner of Medicines Sandeep Kumar confirmed that the drug mafia successfully breached the security protocols of major pharma companies. Using artificial intelligence, counterfeiters generated fake QR codes indistinguishable from original packaging.
The same batch number was used across multiple fake products — a hallmark of a large, coordinated counterfeit operation.
A total of 33 samples collected from Shastri Market wholesalers and nine samples sent to Lucknow labs are still awaiting analysis. A decision is also pending regarding the confiscated medicines worth ₹6.30 lakh from Happy Medicos.
Crackdown Intensifies
As authorities continue to tighten the noose, more arrests and suspensions are expected. The fake drug syndicate, operating across district boundaries, has now come under intense scrutiny, and officials assure that strictest possible action will be taken against all firms involved in compromising public health.
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