Faridabad — A Haryana Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) team has raided the premises of Kokana Asia Ingredients Private Limited in Sector 69, Faridabad, and uncovered an alleged operation repacking industrial-grade propylene glycol into counterfeit drums bearing the brand name of Chennai-based Manali Petrochemicals Limited, Pharmabiz reported.
Source: Pharmabiz
The joint inspection team — drug inspectors Parveen Rathi and Sandeep Gahlain and senior drug inspector Krishan Kumar — acted on a specific complaint forwarded by Haryana State Drug Controller Ripan Mehta. Officers said the firm was allegedly filling drums marked with Manali Petrochemicals' label and brand details with cheap, industrial-grade propylene glycol. The firm's manager, Parveen, was present during the search and told the team that director Navneet Jalota was away; officials said Jalota did not appear when asked to join the proceedings by phone. These are the officials' allegations; the case is yet to be decided by a court.
Source: Pharmabiz
The team seized 42 filled drums of propylene glycol, empty Chinese-origin industrial-grade drums, a transfer pump, sealing covers stamped with the Manali Petrochemicals logo and sealing wire under Form-16, and drew a sample under Form-17 for laboratory analysis. The total seizure was valued at Rs 24,83,250 — yaani about Rs 24.83 lakh — 5 Dariya News reported.
Source: 5 Dariya News
Why officials say the sample test matters
Officials said the seized sample has been sent for testing to determine whether it contains diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol impurities beyond permissible limits. Contamination of this kind can cause severe toxicity, including acute kidney injury and neurological complications, and can prove fatal, particularly among children and other vulnerable patients, officials said. Industrial-grade propylene glycol lacks the purity controls required for pharmaceutical use, and Haryana's labelling rules require industrial-grade containers to carry a 'Not for Pharmaceutical Use' caution.
Source: 5 Dariya News
Citing prima facie evidence of the manufacture and sale of spurious and counterfeit drugs, officials arrested the firm's manager under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and produced him before the competent court for further legal proceedings.