Fake Cancer, BP Drugs Sold via Facebook at 50% Discount, STF Busts Illegal Pharma Unit in Roorkee

The Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) busted an alleged online fake medicine network that was operating through a Facebook page under the name “SK Healthcare,” where medicines were reportedly sold at discounts of 40 to 50 per cent below the maximum retail price.

Officials said the STF had been monitoring the network for nearly two months. During the investigation, STF personnel reportedly posed as customers and ordered medicines from the online platform to verify the operation.

The medicines purchased during the surveillance operation were later sent to pharmaceutical company testing centres, where the samples were allegedly found to be counterfeit.

The investigation led to the arrest of two accused identified as Jatin Saini, a resident of Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh, and Gaurav Tyagi, a resident of Haridwar. During interrogation, the accused allegedly revealed that fake medicines were being manufactured according to orders received through the Facebook page. Investigators said the network had links extending to Gaya, Prayagraj, Badaun, Varanasi and Haridwar.

Authorities stated that counterfeit medicines allegedly included drugs used for treatment of high blood pressure, fungal infections in women and even prostate cancer.The STF investigation further uncovered two alleged fake medicine manufacturing units located in Bhagwanpur in Haridwar district and Kotdwar in Pauri Garhwal district.

Officials told ETV Bharat that examination of bank accounts linked to the accused revealed that counterfeit medicines were being supplied to retail pharmacists across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chandigarh, Punjab and Uttarakhand.

Investigators also stated that one of the accused, Gaurav Tyagi, already faces FIRs registered in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand in similar cases.

The Kotdwar factory identified as M/s Nectar Herbs and Drugs in the SIDCUL Sigaddi area was allegedly operating despite cancellation of its manufacturing licence in 2024.

During the raid, officials reportedly recovered around three kilograms of compressed tablets along with machinery and equipment related to drug manufacturing from the premises.Authorities also noted that the same factory had earlier faced allegations during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021 for allegedly manufacturing counterfeit Remdesivir injections.

ETV Bharat reports that investigators suspect the illegal pharmaceutical network was operating across multiple states through online channels and discounted medicine supplies, while further investigation into the interstate counterfeit drug racket is continuing.

Officials have advised consumers not to purchase medicines without proper bills and warned retailers against buying pharmaceutical stocks from unverified online sources offering unusually high discounts.

A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Information Technology Act and NDPS Act, while further investigation is underway.