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In a coordinated crackdown on the illegal sale of pharmaceutical drugs, the Haryana Drug Control Department, in collaboration with the Haryana Police, conducted two high-profile joint raids in Ellenabad and Fatehabad last Monday.
The enforcement actions, directed by state drug controller (SDC) Lalit Kumar Goel, targeted the unauthorized stocking and distribution of prescription medicines and Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) kits. Both operations resulted in significant seizures and the issuance of on-the-spot legal notices to the accused individuals.
The first raid took place in Ward No. 6, Ellenabad, following a tip-off regarding the illegal sale of dual-use prescription drugs. A raiding party, comprising Sirsa drug inspector Keshav Vashishta and local police officials, intercepted the suspect, Kaluram, near the Shani Dev Mandir. Upon inspecting the premises, officials recovered a substantial haul of restricted medicines, including 495 capsules of Pregabalin (branded as Singalcure-SR 300 and Signore) and 1,700 tablets of Tapentadol HCl (Jackdol 100 SR).
As the accused failed to produce any valid purchase invoices or distribution licenses during the search, the authorities seized the three types of allopathic drugs via Form-17. Show Cause Notices (SCN) were served on the spot under Sections 18(c), 18A, and 22(1)(cca) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. These sections specifically address the sale of drugs without a license and the failure to disclose the source of the acquired stock, laying the groundwork for stringent legal proceedings.
Simultaneously, a second enforcement action was executed at Tehsil Chowk in Fatehabad. This joint team was led by Nirpal Chand, nodal officer (PNDT/MTP), and Dinesh Kumar, drug inspector (Fatehabad-I), supported by a police contingent under Sub-Inspector Shishpal Singh. The team apprehended an individual identified as Himanshu near Shani Mandir location, finding him in illegal possession of 54 MTP kits, specifically Contrakit tablet combo packs containing Mifepristone and Misoprostol.
Lalit Kumar Goel confirmed that the recovered MTP kits were seized under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act after the accused failed to provide any authorization for their possession. To ensure a robust legal case, one portion of the seized samples has been dispatched to the government analyst in Chandigarh for formal laboratory testing and chemical analysis. A legal notice was served to the accused at the site, signalling the commencement of a deeper investigation into the supply chain.
Goel emphasized that these raids are part of an ongoing state-wide campaign to curb the dual-use drug menace, where prescription medications are diverted for substance abuse. He noted that further legal action, including potential criminal prosecution, will be initiated once the investigations are concluded. The department remains on high alert to monitor the unauthorized distribution of sensitive medical kits and habit-forming drugs across the state’s commercial hubs.
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