New Delhi: The Delhi Police has successfully busted a sophisticated interstate criminal network involved in the manufacturing and distribution of spurious life-saving drugs. On Sunday, April 5, 2026, officials announced the arrest of six individuals and the seizure of counterfeit medicines valued at approximately ₹2 crore. The investigation further revealed a massive financial scam, with the syndicate using a network of fictitious GST firms to launder nearly ₹50 crore through bogus invoices.
The racket specialized in producing counterfeit versions of high-demand Schedule-H drugs used for chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and liver disorders. During a raid on a wholesale medical shop in Bhagirathi Palace and a storage facility in Shahdara, police recovered over 1.2 lakh fake tablets and capsules. The seized items included counterfeit versions of popular brands such as Telma-AM, Gluconorm, Jalra-50, and Chymoral Forte, posing a potentially fatal risk to unsuspecting patients.
Key figures and operational details:
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The Syndicate: Arrested individuals include Nikhil Arora (a Delhi-based wholesaler), Shivam Tyagi and Mayank Aggarwal (suppliers from UP), and Mohit Kumar Sharma (a key supplier from Uttarakhand).
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The GST Fraud: Two suspects, Shahrukh and Rahul, were identified as the architects of the financial fraud. They operated shell entities through encrypted platforms to provide “ready-made” fake GST firms and billing services, lending a veil of legitimacy to the illegal trade while evading tax scrutiny.
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Manufacturing Hub: Investigators traced the supply chain to a massive 1,000-square-yard illegal factory in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. While the operator, Mohammad Aqdas Siddiqui, remains absconding, police seized 2,000 kg of raw materials and advanced industrial machinery used for tablet compression and blister packaging.
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Criminal History: One of the accused, Mayank Aggarwal, was found to have a prior criminal record involving the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and previous drug-related violations in Uttar Pradesh.
The senior police officer overseeing the case emphasized that the circulation of these fakes is a “grave threat to public health,” as the products contained ingredients like calcium carbonate and starch instead of active pharmaceutical components. The Delhi Police is now working with the drug controllers of multiple states and GST authorities to identify the retail pharmacies that may have unknowingly—or willfully—stocked these life-threatening counterfeits.
