Dehradun: The Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) on Saturday sealed a factory in Kotdwar allegedly used to manufacture counterfeit drugs, including Remdesivir injections, an antiviral medication, during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021.
Details of the Raid
STF SSP Ajai Singh said the factory, M/s Nector Herbs & Drugs, located in Kotdwar's industrial estate, was raided by a joint team of police and other departments. The operation was based on the interrogation of arrested individuals Jatin Saini (37), a resident of Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, and Gaurav Tyagi (27), a resident of Haridwar.
Investigation Findings
During the investigation, it was discovered that the unit was operational despite its drug manufacturing license being revoked in 2024. This revocation followed a raid by a Telangana Police team that recovered a large quantity of counterfeit medicines and fake packaging material of major pharmaceutical companies from the premises. The Telangana team had conducted the raid after one of the accused arrested by the STF was found supplying fake medicines there.
Singh added that during Saturday's raid, police recovered raw material allegedly used for manufacturing counterfeit medicines, along with machinery from the factory.
Fake Remdesivir Production
The factory was used to manufacture fake Remdesivir injections in 2021, when the Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak. The owner of the factory was identified as Vishad Kumar, a resident of Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh. After completion of the raid, the joint team sealed the unit for further legal proceedings. Vishad is currently on the run.
The STF continues to investigate the network involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit drugs, which posed a serious threat to public health during the pandemic.
