Wed Sep 03 09:43:29 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
A joint operation by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and the Puducherry Drugs Control Department has uncovered an illegal drug manufacturing unit in Mettupalayam, Puducherry. The raid, triggered by information from an arrested pharmaceutical agency owner in Agra, resulted in the seizure of empty capsules, tablets, and packaging materials worth approximately ₹99.47 lakh. Investigations revealed that the unit was linked to several defunct pharmaceutical firms in Puducherry and Villupuram. The godown has been seized, and a police complaint has been filed to initiate criminal proceedings. The investigation is ongoing.
**News Article:**
**Illegal Drug Manufacturing Unit Busted in Puducherry, ₹99 Lakh Worth of Materials Seized**
**PUDUCHERRY, September 3, 2025** – A joint operation by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and the Puducherry Drugs Control Department has uncovered an illegal drug manufacturing unit in Mettupalayam, Puducherry, seizing nearly ₹1 crore worth of illicit materials.
The raid, conducted earlier this week, was prompted by a tip-off from a pharmaceutical agency owner in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, who was arrested last month for stockpiling and selling spurious drugs. During interrogation, the owner revealed that he had procured drugs from a Puducherry-based firm, Meenakshi Pharma.
However, inquiries revealed that Meenakshi Pharma had been defunct for an extended period. This led to the formation of a joint CDSCO and Puducherry Drugs Control team, which subsequently raided a godown in the Mettupalayam Industrial Estate.
The seizure included empty capsules, tablets, and medicine packaging materials with a total value of ₹99.47 lakh. Further investigation revealed connections to other inactive pharmaceutical firms, including Natural Capsule Private Limited in Puducherry, which supplied capsules meant for marketing by Nebulae Pharmaceuticals in Chennai, and Fabulous Life Sciences in Villupuram, which produced tablets and packaging materials.
“The godown at Mettupalayam has been seized, and the seized materials were handed over to the court on Tuesday,” stated an official involved in the operation. “We have filed a police complaint on Wednesday to initiate criminal proceedings against the owner of the godown. We are going to widen the probe after we receive some more inputs.”
The authorities are currently widening the scope of the investigation to uncover the full extent of the illegal operation and identify all individuals involved. The raid underscores the ongoing efforts of regulatory agencies to combat the production and distribution of spurious drugs in India.
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