Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Khader on Monday, 21 September 2026, stated that the Carry and Forward (C&F) agency of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer had refused to cooperate with investigators probing a fake medicine racket unearthed in Bengaluru, and had withheld key information sought by authorities. The minister made the remarks after chairing a high-level review meeting with police, health department officials, and Food Safety and Drug Controller Commissioner Srinivas.

What the C&F Agency Allegedly Withheld

According to Khader, the Pfizer C&F agency — which handles distribution of products originating from Australia and Italy — was asked to share details of medicines supplied through its network. Officials also requested a reference standard essential for laboratory testing to determine the precise proportion of active components in the seized medicines. As of Monday, neither the supply-chain data nor the reference standard had been furnished.

'We sought information from the main agents, but they did not show any interest in providing it,' Khader told reporters. 'Even the reference standard has not been provided yet. In this background, there has been non-cooperation from the company in the investigation and laboratory testing,' he added.

The Bidadi Racket: What Was Found

The case stems from a raid carried out by the Drug Enforcement Wing of the Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) on 18 August 2026 at a farmhouse in Kurubarakeranahalli, Bidadi, in Bengaluru South district. The operation uncovered an allegedly unlicenced pharmaceutical repacking and relabelling facility. Spurious drugs, machinery, and printing materials worth an estimated ₹5.05 crore were seized; the inventory value of the recovered materials was placed at ₹4.91 crore.

Preliminary investigations suggest that low-cost medicines procured from neighbouring states were being repacked into new vials and relabelled to resemble expensive, life-saving drugs of multinational companies — including products purportedly carrying the Pfizer brand. Authorities also found QR and scanning codes on suspected counterfeit labels that reportedly did not function when verified. Officials have warned that the seized products are suspected to contain no active medicinal ingredients, incorrect ingredients, or potentially harmful substances — posing a serious public health risk.

Licences Cancelled, SIT Formed

Action has been initiated against 24 centres linked to the racket. In total, 17 drug licences have been cancelled and seven licences suspended. Among the suspended entities is the licence of M/s Pfizer C&F Depot at Kempalinganahalli, Nelamangala Taluk, in Bengaluru Rural district. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the matter.

'In connection with the fake medicine mafia, our Food Safety and Drug Control Department officials, along with the police, detected the racket and an SIT is probing the matter. The search is on to identify the kingpin responsible for the drug mafia and trace all those connected with the network, from the dealers to those to whom the medicines were supplied,' Khader said.

Entities involved allegedly procured medicines at prices far below the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) and sold them to consumers at full MRP rates. The department had requested details of hospitals and pharmacies supplied with these medicines, but the accused entities allegedly declined to cooperate — leading directly to the licence actions.

Six-State Probe and Public Advisory

Investigations are now underway to trace the entire supply chain across six states. The Karnataka FDA has blocked all batch numbers and entries of the seized medicines on its portal to prevent further sale or distribution. Samples have been sent to laboratories for testing of chemical composition, sterility, and potency. A criminal case has been registered under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, with provisions relating to spurious drugs invoked.

The department on Monday issued a public advisory urging citizens to purchase medicines only from licenced pharmacies against valid tax invoices, and to report suspicious packaging or non-scanning QR codes to Drug Enforcement authorities. With the investigation expanding and the kingpin still at large, authorities say the probe is far from over.