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Delhi drugs control department cracks down on sale of fake cholesterol medicines
The Delhi drugs control department recently uncovered a multi-level distribution network involved in the sale and circulation of spurious Rosuvas F 20 tablets, a prescription drug used to manage cholesterol and triglyceride levels, officials said on Friday.
The action followed a complaint from Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, which reported that fake versions of its Rosuvas F 20 tablets were being sold by a retail outlet in central Delhi. The complaint mentioned a multi-level supply chain involving multiple wholesalers and distributors across the city.
Rosuvas F 20 is a fixed-dose combination drug containing Rosuvastatin (20 mg) and Fenofibrate (160 mg). It is commonly prescribed to patients who require medication to manage high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, especially when lifestyle changes alone are not sufficient. The drug plays a vital role in preventing serious cardiovascular conditions such as heart attacks and strokes.
Drugs control department officials said Rosuvas F 20 tablets were a fast-moving drug, and on June 14 and 15, 1,800 spurious tablets worth Rs 88,000 were seized from two locations in Okhla and Bhagirath Palace.
'On June 14, we first received a complaint from Rajinder Nagar, but no stock was found. A link was established in Okhla and Bhagirath Palace, where raids were conducted,' an official said.
Officials noted irregularities and a suspicious absence of genuine stock at several distribution points, which ultimately led them to a firm located in the Okhla Industrial Area. 'Visual inspection and comparison with authentic samples suggested that the seized products were spurious — their appearance and packaging did not match those of the legitimate manufacturer,' said an official.
Here, additional suspect stock of Rosuvas F 20 was found. Legal samples were collected from Bhagirath Palace, Chandni Chowk—one of Delhi's busiest medicine markets—and sent to a government laboratory for quality testing, while manufacturer verification is also underway, officials revealed.
The department has secured custody permission for the seized drugs through the Delhi High Court. 'We are now coordinating with authorities in other states to trace the full supply chain behind the fake medication,' the official said.
