Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Karnataka Suspends Pfizer Depot as Fake Drug Racket Unravels
Officials in Karnataka say they found a large operation making medicines that may be fake.
The investigation began after a raid in Bidadi on August 18.
Investigators also searched a farmhouse in Dodderi.
They found medicines, machines, labels and bills that may have been used to copy expensive brands.
Some of the medicines were meant to look like Pfizer products.
Officials cancelled or suspended the licences of several distributors and retailers.
The health minister said many businesses did not help investigators recall the medicines.
A special team is now investigating who organized the network and where the medicines were sent.
Karnataka cancelled 16 pharmaceutical licences and suspended eight others, including a Pfizer depot, over alleged links to spurious medicines.
A later government account said 17 distributor and retailer licences had been cancelled, creating a discrepancy in the reported total.
Raids on August 18 in Bidadi and Dodderi uncovered suspected counterfeit medicines and industrial machinery worth about Rs 5.05 crore.
Investigators found fake bills, injection-filling equipment, counterfeit labels and nonfunctional QR codes at the premises.
Health Minister U T Khader said many distributors failed to cooperate with medicine recalls or the Special Investigation Team’s probe.
- Who
- Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drugs Administration, Health Minister U T Khader, pharmaceutical distributors and retailers, and a government-appointed Special Investigation Team.
- What
- Authorities cancelled or suspended licences of pharmaceutical businesses after alleged counterfeit medicines were discovered; reports differ on whether 16 or 17 licences were cancelled.
- When
- The initial raids took place on August 18; the licence actions were announced on Sunday and Monday, with one government post dated September 21, 2026.
- Where
- Bidadi and Dodderi in Bengaluru South district, with the alleged distribution network extending across several states.
- Why
- Authorities allege that businesses helped distribute or supply spurious medicines and say many did not cooperate with recalls or the investigation.
Government and investigators
Companies and distributors
Alleged involvement
Government and investigators
Karnataka officials allege that distributors and retailers helped sell or supply spurious medicines and may have been connected to producers of counterfeit drugs.
Companies and distributors
The reports do not provide substantive public responses from the affected businesses. Pfizer did not respond to ThePrint’s request for comment, and the allegations have not been presented as proven convictions.
Cooperation with the investigation
Government and investigators
Health Minister U T Khader says many firms showed little interest in recalling distributed medicines and were uncooperative with the SIT, prompting some licence suspensions.
Companies and distributors
The companies’ explanations for their conduct were not reported. Pfizer’s position was not available at the time of publication.
- Cancelled licences
- 16 firms in the initial report; a later government account said 17 distributor and retailer licences had been cancelled.
- Suspended licences
- Eight licences, including the Pfizer C & F Depot in Nelamangala taluk.
- Raid date
- August 18.
- Seizure value
- About Rs 5 crore in the initial account; Rs 5.05 crore in the later report.
- Evidence found
- Suspected counterfeit medicines, fake bills, injection-filling equipment, industrial machinery, counterfeit labels and nonfunctional QR codes.
- Investigation
- A Special Investigation Team is probing the alleged wider racket.
- Alleged reach
- The network reportedly extended across Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and other areas.
