FDA and anti-narcotics task force seize drugs worth Rs 22 lakh in Nagpur raids

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the anti-narcotics task force have jointly carried out a major operation in Nagpur. Illegal stock of intoxicating medicines worth Rs 22 lakh was seized.

According to the information available, medicines were being sold without permission at a pharmacy in the Bharat Mata Chowk area of Nagpur. Acting on this information, the shop was raided and stock of medicines worth Rs 22 lakh 3 thousand was seized.

Part of the action was also carried out in the Wathoda area. The inquiry found that a pharmacy there lacked the documents required under the drug rules, yet continued to sell medicines. The FDA has therefore proposed cancelling the shop's drug licence.

The action comes at a time when Tukaram Mundhe, commissioner of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration, is already in the news for his strict approach. Over the past few months, the department under his leadership has been taking continuous action. This has caused alarm among those who flout rules and those who adulterate goods.

The Nagpur action is described as the latest in that series. The FDA and the anti-narcotics task force carried it out jointly. The shop at Bharat Mata Chowk was raided on receiving information about sales without permission, while the case of the Wathoda pharmacy, selling despite lacking documents, came to light separately.

In all, action was taken at two places in Nagpur. At one, stock worth Rs 22 lakh 3 thousand was seized, and for the pharmacy at the other, the FDA has proposed cancelling the licence.