Agra: Certain batch numbers of some key medicines usually prescribed for pain relief and to treat sleep disorder were recalled by authorities in UP on Monday, and several other states and UTs, including Delhi, were alerted in this regard, following laboratory reports of samples.
After receiving the sample reports, Agra’s drug commissioner Atul Upadhyay said on Monday, “Lists were sent to drug inspectors across all districts in UP. These include the names and batch numbers. Advisories were issued to halt sale and recall these medicines. Besides UP, the lists were sent to Delhi, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Bihar and West Bengal.”
This comes after the state’s anti-narcotics task force (ANTF) along with the drug department in Agra and the local police conducted an extensive raid in the city on Oct 22 and later at the pharmaceutical unit of Vijay Goyal, who was held in the past for “fake medicines”. About 14 samples were subsequently dispatched for tests.
An official, privy to the matter, said, “Sleep medication ‘Alzocell 0.5mg’ manufactured under VK Life Sciences and ‘Alpracef 0.5 produced under Uttarakhand-based Cure and Cure’ firm’s name were found lacking Alprazolam salt. Also, pain relief tablet ‘Spasmowel’ contained Paracetamol but lacked Tramadol. These contained excipients (inactive pharmaceutical ingredients). One sample was of empty capsules, which contained gelatin. During the raid, counterfeit medicines worth over Rs 8 crore and machinery valued at Rs 4 crore were seized. Vijay Goyal, his manager Narendra Sharma, were among 10 people held and an FIR was registered against them under sections of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and BNS.”
Goyal was released on bail from jail in Feb. His associate, Sharma, had been released earlier. Four months after their release, the duo reopened a factory on Zonal Park Road in Sikandra Industrial Area.
