The Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday carried out a raid at premises near the Bidadi tollgate and seized pharmaceuticals worth more than ₹5 crore, alleging an organised operation to repack and relabel fake medicines as products of multinational drug companies, officials said.
Operation, seizure and licence status
The drive was led by the department’s drug-control wing, which discovered the facility operating without a valid licence, according to official statements. Authorities said the medicines were being repackaged and labelled to resemble brands from multinational manufacturers, and samples from the site were collected for further forensic examination.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Bidadi tollgate vicinity, Ramanagara/Bengaluru rural area |
| Seized value | ₹5 crore (reported) |
| Licence status | Operating without valid licence, officials said |
| Current action | Investigation to trace source, identify accused and distribution network |
Probe and wider enforcement drive
Further investigation is under way to determine the provenance of the seized drugs, identify those responsible and map the intended distribution channels, the department said. Officials emphasised that the operation forms part of an intensified enforcement campaign by the state regulator targeting unsafe and unlicensed food and drug operations across Karnataka.
- Recent inspections in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Mangaluru uncovered more than 1,000 kg of unsafe food items, according to the FDA.
- Teams reported findings including expired ingredients, fungal contamination and improper storage of meat at various establishments.
- Crackdowns have covered hotels, resorts, quick-commerce storage hubs, Indira Canteens and food outlets inside government complexes.
During checks at government complexes — Vidhana Soudha, Vikasa Soudha and Arogya Soudha — officials cited lapses such as inadequate pest control and unhygienic food handling. In one instance, cockroaches were found on plates at a canteen in Vikasa Soudha, the FDA said.
Incidents prompting action
In Mangaluru, the regulator temporarily sealed a KFC outlet after a customer alleged the chicken ordered online was stale and tasteless. Samples were forwarded for laboratory analysis as part of the FDA’s follow-up, officials reported.
Authorities said these spot inspections and targeted raids aim to curb a range of public-health risks, from counterfeit pharmaceuticals to contaminated food. The department warned that sale or distribution of unlicensed medicines and repackaged drugs can pose serious health hazards because composition, potency and storage conditions cannot be guaranteed.
Legal and public-health implications
Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and relevant state rules, manufacture, repackaging or distribution of drugs without licences and proper documentation attracts penal action and prosecution. The FDA said it will coordinate with law-enforcement agencies and forensic laboratories to build a case against those involved and pursue action under criminal and regulatory statutes.
Officials did not release names of any suspects or provide further inventory details pending laboratory tests and ongoing inquiries. The department stated that once laboratory results are available, they will inform next steps including formal complaints, arrests and possible market recalls if required.
Consumers were urged to purchase medicines from licensed pharmacies, verify packaging and batch details, and report suspicious products to the FDA helpline. Pharmacists and healthcare providers were reminded to check supplier credentials and maintain traceability for all pharmaceutical consignments.
The seizure was first reported in an article published on Aug 18 by Aprameya Rao. The FDA’s continuing inspections underline sustained regulatory attention on food safety and drug quality across the state.
