NCB freezes 25 properties worth ₹20.10 crore in pharma drug diversion case
Synopsis
What started with 5,000 Tramadol tablets at Amritsar has unravelled into a seven-state pharmaceutical diversion network — and now the NCB has locked down ₹20.10 crore in properties, with three key accused still on the run despite Supreme Court-dismissed bail pleas.
Key Takeaways
The NCB secured confirmation of a freeze on 25 properties valued at ₹20.10 crore in an inter-state pharma drug diversion case on 30 October .
Seizures include approximately 34 lakh psychotropic tablets , 10.57 lakh bottles of codeine-based cough syrup, 50,000 Tramadol ampoules , 5,000 Midazolam vials , and 2,200 kg of psychotropic powder.
17 persons have been arrested; the network spans 7 states including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
The case originated from a 5,000 Tramadol tablet seizure at Amritsar on 7 February 2025 , linking back to a non-existent marketing firm.
Konic Goyal , Manic Goyal , and Parshotam Lal Goyal remain absconding; their anticipatory bail pleas were dismissed by the Supreme Court .
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has secured judicial confirmation of its order freezing 25 immovable properties valued at an aggregate of ₹20.10 crore in a sprawling inter-state pharmaceutical drug diversion case, an NCB official announced on Sunday, 1 November 2026. The Competent Authority under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976 and the NDPS Acts, based in New Delhi, confirmed the freeze by order dated 30 October under Section 68F(2) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
Scale of Drug Seizures
The investigation has yielded one of the largest pharmaceutical drug diversion hauls in recent memory. According to the NCB statement, authorities have so far seized approximately 34 lakh psychotropic tablets, 10.57 lakh bottles of codeine-based cough syrup, 50,000 Tramadol ampoules, 5,000 Midazolam vials, and roughly 2,200 kg of psychotropic powder — including both raw materials and formulations. Seventeen persons have been arrested, and the network has been traced across seven states: Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Haryana, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh.
How the Network Was Uncovered
The case originated with a routine seizure of 5,000 Tramadol tablets at Amritsar on 7 February 2025. Packaging on the consignment identified J.R. Pharmaceuticals, Haridwar, as the manufacturer and Tiwari Medical Agencies, Dehradun, as the marketer. Investigators quickly established that the marketing firm did not exist. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the NCB then pursued the supply chain, uncovering an inter-state network of pharmaceutical companies in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh that were systematically diverting controlled medicines to fictitious entities for illicit distribution. Notably, substantial quantities of psychotropic drugs and raw material were seized from Digital Vision and Vellinton Healthcare in Kala-Amb, Himachal Pradesh.
Financial Trail and Frozen Properties
Financial investigation revealed that proceeds from the diverted drugs were routed and layered through the bank accounts of firms under investigation. The accused reportedly failed to establish any lawful source of income for properties held in their own names and those of family members. The 25 frozen properties span industrial plots, commercial units, shop-cum-office spaces, and residential apartments — including assets in Gillco Industrial Park, Mohali City Centre-3, Mohali City Centre Walk, Janta Industrial Estate, Galaxy Heights-2, and Queenstown. The confirmed freezing order restricts any transfer or dealing with these assets without prior official permission, preserving them for proceedings under Chapter VA of the NDPS Act.
Key Accused Remain Absconding
Konic Goyal, Manic Goyal, and their father Parshotam Lal Goyal, residents of Ambala Cantt, Haryana, remain at large despite repeated summons and non-bailable warrants, according to the NCB. Their applications for anticipatory bail have been dismissed by the Supreme Court. The confirmed freeze covers properties held in their names as well as those of their family members. This comes amid a broader national crackdown on pharmaceutical diversion networks that exploit legal supply chains to funnel controlled substances into illicit markets — a pattern enforcement agencies have flagged as an escalating enforcement challenge.
What Happens Next
With the freezing order now judicially confirmed, proceedings under Chapter VA of the NDPS Act are expected to advance toward formal forfeiture. The three absconding accused remain the key unresolved element of the investigation, and their apprehension is likely to be the NCB's next operational priority.
Point of View
Not just individual criminality. The Supreme Court's dismissal of anticipatory bail for the absconding accused is a significant signal, but their continued evasion underscores the enforcement lag that regularly allows financial beneficiaries of drug networks to transfer or shield assets before agencies act. The ₹20.10 crore freeze is meaningful, but the real accountability question is whether the broader regulatory apparatus — licensing bodies, state drug controllers — will face scrutiny for enabling this network to operate across seven states undetected.
NationPress
1 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NCB pharma drug diversion case?
It is an inter-state investigation into a network of pharmaceutical companies in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh that diverted controlled medicines — including Tramadol, codeine-based cough syrups, and psychotropic substances — to fictitious entities for illicit distribution. The case originated from a seizure of 5,000 Tramadol tablets at Amritsar on 7 February 2025 and has expanded to cover seven states.
Why were 25 properties worth ₹20.10 crore frozen?
The NCB froze the properties after a financial investigation revealed that drug sale proceeds were routed and layered through the bank accounts of firms under probe. The accused could not establish lawful income sources for the assets, which are held in their names and those of family members. The freezing was confirmed on 30 October under Section 68F(2) of the NDPS Act, 1985.
Who are the key accused and why are they still at large?
Konic Goyal, Manic Goyal, and their father Parshotam Lal Goyal — residents of Ambala Cantt, Haryana — are the primary absconding accused. Despite repeated summons, non-bailable warrants, and the Supreme Court dismissing their anticipatory bail applications, they have not been apprehended.
What drugs were seized in this case?
Authorities seized approximately 34 lakh psychotropic tablets, 10.57 lakh bottles of codeine-based cough syrup, 50,000 Tramadol ampoules, 5,000 Midazolam vials, and around 2,200 kg of psychotropic powder including raw materials and formulations.
What happens to the frozen properties now?
The confirmed freezing order bars any transfer or dealing with the 25 properties without prior official permission. They are now preserved for proceedings under Chapter VA of the NDPS Act, which can ultimately lead to formal forfeiture if the accused are convicted.
