The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration raided a local vendor in suburban Mumbai and confiscated large stocks of fake balms with labels of popular brands Zandu, Iodex and Amruthanjan. The vendor, who had been charged earlier in a similar case, is also found manufacturing such spurious and counterfeit drug products in a small premise attached to the warehouse where he was raided.

The FDA raid lead by assistant commissioner (Intelligence), Omprakash Sadhwani, has handed over the person to police custody with charges of spurious drug manufacturing and marketing. The FDA officials said that the accused would be produced in the court soon.

According to Sadhwani, the same person had been caught in a similar case two years ago for producing fake branded balms and ointments, but could not be tried in court due to delay in taking up the case in the court. But this time, the officials said that, the court may act faster due to the re-involvement of the accused in the same act. The punishment for the offence would attract imprisonment for 1-2 years or even longer, they added.

In another raid the FDA seized bulk quantities of drugs and antiseptic products from a godown near Bhivandi in Thane. The stock was seized following no transport and delivery documents produced by the stockist.

The officials have taken the proprietor of the firm into custody and are ascertaining the facts and contents of the confiscated stock. According to FDA officials the unit was raided yesterday in the presence of police officials who until now have unfolded three-four cartons of antiseptic, Dettol and detergent, Lysol, exceeding worth Rs. 10000.

"The goods were tagged under the 'to be transported' category without any further details on the source and the place to be delivered", said Sadhwani. The case is being investigated and would be transferred to the Court for further scrutiny.