Thane: The Mira Bhayander-Vasai Virar (MBVV) police on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, clarified that a man seen in a viral video in a catatonic state was not under the influence of a “zombie drug.” Extensive investigations revealed that the individual, identified as 22-year-old labourer Sameer Rajendra Rawal, had suffered a severe overdose of Pregabalin. The medication, commonly sold under brand names like Lyrica, is a Schedule-H prescription drug used to treat nerve pain and anxiety. The video, which surfaced on April 15, showed Rawal standing motionless and disoriented in the Bhayander area of Thane, leading to intense social media speculation about the arrival of lethal synthetic drugs in Maharashtra.
Following the viral spread of the footage, the crime detection branch traced Rawal to a road in Bhayander on April 17. During questioning, the youth, a native of the Achham district in Nepal, admitted to a long-standing addiction to Pregabalin tablets. Rawal stated that he had purchased a strip of ten tablets for ₹100 from a local pharmacy in Navghar without a medical prescription. On the night the video was recorded, he had consumed five tablets simultaneously, resulting in a state of extreme sedation and dizziness that rendered him unable to move. Authorities confirmed that no “zombie drug” or veterinary tranquillizers were involved in the incident.
In response to the illegal sale of the medication, a joint team of police and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials inspected the medical shop where Rawal procured the tablets. The shopkeeper reportedly fled the area after the video gained nationwide attention. Under the updated Drug Rules of 2026, the illegal supply of Schedule-H drugs without a valid prescription carries severe penalties, including fines up to ₹10 lakh and license suspension. A formal report has been submitted to the FDA in Thane to initiate strict disciplinary and legal action against the pharmacy for endangering public safety and contributing to prescription drug misuse.
