Odisha Crime Branch to probe counterfeit drugs seizure case

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today ordered the Crime Branch of Odisha Police to probe into the seizure of alleged counterfeit drug in different parts of the State.

Few days back, the Drugs Inspectors of different districts seized spurious drugs in Balangir, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Rourkela and Bhubaneswar on June 11. The seizures were made a day after large quantity of spurious Favipiravir Tablets were recovered in Cuttack on June 10.

Based on a tip-off from the Food & Drugs Administration, Maharashtra State on spurious Favipiravir Tablets – Favimax-400, allegedly manufactured by M/s. Max Relief Health Care, Solan in Himachal Pradesh, have been purchased by M/s. Medilloyd Medicament Private Limited, Kanika Chhak in Cuttack, a raid was conducted at the premises of Medilloyd Medicament, by the Cuttack Drugs Inspectors.

The officials found Max Relief Health Care is a nonexisting manufacturer.

During the raid, it was also found that the Medilloyd Medicament has purchased 58,000 tablets of “Favimax-400” from one Max Relief Health Care, Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P.

Nine other drugs allegedly manufactured by the same M/s. Max Relief Health Care, Solan, Himachal Pradesh were also purchased by Medilloyd Medicament.

Earlier, Additional Chief Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department, PK Mohapatra directed the Odisha State Medical Corporartion Ltd and the police to probe jointly into the seizure of spurious drugs and submit a report.