Uttarakhand STF busts fake pharma factory in Bazpur, seizes 1 lakh tablets
Synopsis
A fake pharmaceutical unit in Uttarakhand's Bazpur was passing off counterfeit allopathic drugs — including life-saving antibiotics and neurological medicines — as products of Sun Pharma, Intas, and Macleods, all while operating under Ayurvedic and food licences. The same warehouse also stocked illicit liquor sourced from Haryana, pointing to a multi-product criminal syndicate the STF is still unravelling.
Key Takeaways
The Uttarakhand STF raided Kovil Biotech in Bazpur, Udham Singh Nagar on Sunday , dismantling a counterfeit drug manufacturing syndicate.
Approximately 1 lakh tablets and 15,000 bottles of syrups were seized, bearing fake stamps of STADMED , Macleods , Intas , and Sun Pharma .
The unit operated under Ayurvedic and food licences to manufacture allopathic drugs without a valid drug manufacturing licence.
Illicit liquor — including 1,632 quarters of McDowell's No.
1 — and Uttarakhand Excise holograms were also recovered; the accused admitted sourcing liquor from Haryana .
One person, Dhirendra , was arrested; a case has been registered under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) .
The STF has launched a broader probe to identify larger networks linked to the syndicate.
The Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF), in coordination with the Drug Administration Department, on Sunday raided and dismantled a counterfeit pharmaceutical manufacturing unit operating under the name 'Kovil Biotech' in the Bazpur industrial area of Udham Singh Nagar. The syndicate was producing and distributing fake allopathic and life-saving medicines bearing the brand names of established pharmaceutical companies — all without a valid drug manufacturing licence.
What Was Seized
Investigators recovered approximately 1 lakh tablets and 15,000 bottles of syrups intended for treating conditions including acidity, pain, neurological disorders, prostate issues, antibiotic requirements, and calcium and iron deficiencies. The counterfeit medicines carried stamps of reputed firms including STADMED, Macleods, Intas, and Sun Pharma.
Beyond medicines, the raid also uncovered a significant cache of illicit liquor: 1,632 quarters of McDowell's No. 1, 1,016 bottles of III RCS liquor, 1,000 empty glass bottles, and Uttarakhand Excise holograms. Packaging machinery — including filling, sealing, and labelling equipment — along with stainless steel tanks were also confiscated.
How the Operation Was Run
According to officials, Kovil Biotech was operating under the cover of Ayurvedic and food licences to manufacture allopathic drugs — a deliberate misuse of regulatory categories to evade scrutiny. The raid was triggered by a tip-off and specific intelligence inputs, officials said.
One person, identified as Dhirendra, was arrested from the premises. During questioning, Dhirendra reportedly admitted to sourcing illicit liquor from Haryana for distribution within Uttarakhand — indicating the syndicate's activities extended well beyond pharmaceutical counterfeiting.
Legal Action Taken
Following the recoveries, police registered a case against the accused at the Bazpur police station under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The STF has launched a wider investigation to identify and apprehend senior figures or larger syndicates connected to the network.
Why This Matters
The operation exposes a troubling vulnerability in India's pharmaceutical supply chain: counterfeit medicines mimicking trusted brands can reach patients who have no means of verifying authenticity. Life-saving drugs — antibiotics, neurological medications — produced in unlicensed facilities with unverified ingredients pose direct health risks. Notably, the use of Ayurvedic and food licences as regulatory cover suggests a deliberate exploitation of oversight gaps between different licensing authorities. The STF's ongoing probe will be closely watched to determine how deep the supply network runs.
Point of View
It points to fragmented regulatory oversight that bad actors have learned to exploit. The fact that brand names like Sun Pharma and Intas were being mimicked means patients and pharmacists alike were the intended victims. The STF's probe into 'bigger individuals' is the real test: if this ends at Dhirendra, the network will simply reconstitute elsewhere.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was found at the fake pharma factory in Bazpur?
The Uttarakhand STF seized approximately 1 lakh tablets and 15,000 bottles of syrups bearing counterfeit stamps of companies including Sun Pharma, Intas, Macleods, and STADMED. The raid also uncovered illicit liquor, Uttarakhand Excise holograms, and pharmaceutical packaging and filling machinery.
How was Kovil Biotech operating without a drug licence?
According to officials, Kovil Biotech was using Ayurvedic and food licences as regulatory cover to manufacture allopathic medicines — a deliberate misuse of separate licensing categories that allowed it to evade drug authority scrutiny.
Who was arrested in the Uttarakhand fake medicines raid?
A person identified as Dhirendra was arrested from the Kovil Biotech premises in Bazpur. During questioning, he reportedly admitted to sourcing illicit liquor from Haryana for supply within Uttarakhand.
What charges have been filed in the Bazpur pharma bust?
Police have registered a case at Bazpur police station under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The STF is conducting a wider investigation to identify senior members of the syndicate.
Why is the Uttarakhand STF pharma raid significant?
The operation reveals how counterfeit life-saving medicines — including antibiotics and neurological drugs — can enter the supply chain under trusted brand names, posing serious public health risks. The use of non-pharmaceutical licences as cover highlights a gap in coordinated regulatory enforcement that the investigation aims to address.
