The Delhi government has intensified its campaign against the illegal drug trade with a major inspection and enforcement drive carried out by the Drugs Control Department at Bhagirath Palace, one of the capital’s prominent pharmaceutical trading hubs. The action, conducted under the directions of Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, underscores the Rekha Gupta-led Delhi government’s zero-tolerance approach towards substandard, counterfeit, and illegally sold medicines.
Officials said the special enforcement drive was part of a broader strategy to ensure the availability of safe, effective, and quality medicines for residents of the national capital. During the operation, Drugs Control Department teams conducted inspections at 27 wholesale drug dealer premises operating in the Bhagirath Palace area. As a result of the inspections, more than 10 pharmaceutical firms were found to be violating provisions of the Drugs Rules. Legal proceedings have been initiated against the defaulting firms under the relevant sections of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and associated rules.
To assess adherence to prescribed quality and safety standards, the inspection teams collected a total of 204 samples, including syrups, medicines, cotton, and various surgical items. Officials confirmed that all samples have been sent for laboratory testing and analysis. Further action will be taken based on the outcome of these tests, depending on whether the products meet regulatory requirements.
During the same enforcement exercise at Bhagirath Palace, authorities also booked one shop for selling medical devices and surgical items without a valid licence. The sale of such products without authorisation was found to be in clear violation of the Medical Devices Rules. Appropriate legal action is being pursued against the firm involved, officials said, reiterating that unlicensed sale of medical equipment poses a serious risk to public health.
The Bhagirath Palace operation follows another significant enforcement action carried out earlier through a joint effort between the Drugs Control Department and the Delhi Police. Acting on specific inputs received from the Cyber Cell of the Delhi Police Crime Branch, a joint team conducted a late-night raid at a drug trading premises located in the Teliwara area of Sadar Bazar. The raid resulted in the detection and seizure of a large cache of counterfeit and spurious medicines, including a substantial quantity of fake anti-fungal creams, from one of the drug traders operating in the area.
According to officials involved in the operation, the premises in Sadar Bazar were found to be functioning without a valid drug licence. During the inspection, the person in charge of the establishment failed to produce any legitimate purchase or sale records. Physical verification of the site revealed significant quantities of fake branded topical formulations that were allegedly stocked for sale and distribution in the market.
Preliminary investigations have indicated that the seized counterfeit medicines were not limited to local circulation. Authorities said the illegal supply network extended to adjoining states and also had links to neighbouring countries, pointing to a wider inter-state and cross-border network involved in the trade of fake medicines. In view of the seriousness of the findings, the Drugs Control Departments of the concerned neighbouring states have been formally informed to ensure heightened vigilance and coordinated action against the network.
Commending the proactive efforts of the Drugs Control Department, Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh reiterated the Delhi government’s firm commitment to strict regulatory oversight and the protection of public health. He stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the government is determined to eliminate the sale of spurious, substandard, and illegally marketed drugs and medical devices from the city.
The health minister emphasised that ensuring access to safe and quality medicines for every resident of Delhi is a non-negotiable priority. He said the government maintains zero tolerance towards counterfeit, substandard, or illegally sold medicines and medical devices, and warned that violators would face strict legal consequences.
Officials confirmed that similar intensified enforcement drives and inspections will continue across Delhi in the coming days. The Drugs Control Department, in coordination with law enforcement agencies, will maintain close surveillance of pharmaceutical markets and trading hubs to curb illegal practices and uphold regulatory standards.
Authorities said the sustained crackdown is aimed at protecting public health, strengthening regulatory compliance, and dismantling networks involved in the manufacture, storage, and distribution of counterfeit medicines. The Delhi government has reiterated that coordinated action and strict enforcement will remain central to its efforts to safeguard citizens from the dangers posed by illegal and substandard drugs.
