Gurugram Bust: Rs 70 Lakh Counterfeit Eli Lilly Mounjaro Recovered, 2 Arrested

Mounjaro, developed by Eli Lilly and Company, contains tirzepatide and is widely used for type 2 diabetes management, with rising off-label demand for weight loss.

Acting on specific intelligence regarding the illegal stocking and sale of the drug, a joint team of drug inspectors and police intercepted a Swift Dzire near Super Mart-1 at around 7:25 pm. The vehicle was found carrying injections of varying strengths ranging from 2.5 mg to 15 mg, packed in cartons and transported in ice boxes.

During questioning, the driver informed officials that he was operating a cab booked for a drop within Gurugram. A passenger in the vehicle, identified as Mujammil Khan, was detained at the spot. He disclosed that the consignment belonged to Avi Sharma, a resident of Sohna, who was subsequently called to the location.

According to the spot memo, Sharma failed to produce a valid licence for stocking, selling, or distributing the drug. The memo further noted that the seized injections were not stored at the mandated temperature range of 2°C to 8°C, which is essential for maintaining the integrity of such injectable formulations.

Upon physical verification, officials identified multiple discrepancies in the product labelling. The memo specifically recorded that "the font size of original product and recovered product was mismatch" and highlighted variations in other labelling details. It further stated that these discrepancies render the product "spurious and not manufactured by the manufacturer."

Based on these findings, authorities invoked provisions under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, including Section 17B related to spurious drugs, along with penal provisions under Sections 27(a) and 27(c). Both Mujammil Khan and Avi Sharma were arrested at the scene.

District Drug Controller Amandeep Chauhan confirmed that initial questioning is underway and further verification is in progress. "We are examining the packaging, quality and authenticity of the injections. It is being verified if these were sourced from a licensed company or supplied illegally," he stated. Officials indicated that a single injection is estimated to cost approximately ₹28,000.

In the interest of public safety, authorities have recommended halting the sale of the seized batches until further verification is completed. Samples are expected to undergo detailed testing to determine their composition and authenticity.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the consignment may have been routed through Delhi’s Bhagirath Palace market, a known pharmaceutical trading hub, while billing records point to an address in Gurugram. Officials are now working to trace the complete supply chain and identify all entities involved in the distribution network.

"We are tracing the entire supply chain. Once the source and links are established, action will be taken against all those involved," an official told TOI.

The investigation remains ongoing. Meanwhile, responding to the development, a spokesperson for Eli Lilly and Company (India) issued the following statement:

"We have been made aware of a recent development in relation to the seizure of a suspicious and counterfeit products that allegedly carry our product brand name Mounjaro (Tirzepatide). The said seizure resulted from an enforcement drive conducted in Gurugram by officials from the state drugs regulatory authority, Haryana."

"Lilly takes patient safety extremely seriously and welcomes regulatory authority’s action against illicit medicines. We are actively supporting the investigation and will continue to work with regulatory and law enforcement authorities worldwide to protect patients from the risks of counterfeit products. Stronger, coordinated enforcement must be sustained if we are to protect patients from unsafe fake medicines.”