The drugs control department has expanded its investigation into the distribution of counterfeit Mounjaro injections after confirming that some vials had already been dispatched outside the National Capital Region (NCR) before last week's seizure. Officials revealed on Thursday that six injections from the seized batch were supplied to a dealer in Hyderabad, who has been cautioned against selling or using the stock.
Expanding the Probe
District drug controller Amandeep Chauhan stated that the department is now verifying whether additional consignments were sent to other cities, including through e-commerce platforms. The case follows a major operation last week, where 262 vials of suspected counterfeit Mounjaro injections were recovered during a raid near Super Mart-1. Two individuals, Mujammil Khan and supplier Avi Sharma, were arrested in connection with the seizure.
Notice to IndiaMart
Authorities have issued a notice to IndiaMart, an online marketplace, seeking detailed information about transactions related to the counterfeit products. The company has requested additional time to submit the required data. Chauhan emphasized that the department is examining whether supplies extended beyond the identified batch and is working to trace all possible recipients.
Laboratory Testing Underway
Samples from the seized batch have been sent for comprehensive laboratory analysis, including sterility testing, which requires a 14-day incubation period. Until the results are confirmed, the circulation of the entire batch has been halted. Chauhan noted that the visible discrepancies in packaging, such as differences in blue and red shades, typography, and text alignment, clearly indicated the product was not genuine.
Operations in Gurgaon
Investigators revealed that Sharma operated from a flat in Gurgaon's Sector 62, which was exclusively used for assembling and packaging the fake injections. He allegedly procured raw materials, including peptides and injection components, from China through an e-commerce platform. The products were then assembled at the flat, where online sources were used to imitate the original drug. Sharma is reported to have used 3D printing to create packaging cartons, labels, and instruction leaflets designed to resemble the genuine Mounjaro product.
Officials found that the injections were not stored at the required temperature range of 2°C to 8°C, and the accused could not produce documents authorizing the stocking or sale of the medicines. The flat had refrigeration facilities to store the materials, which were assembled into injectable units.
Broader Investigation
Investigators are now tracing both the source of the raw materials and the network of buyers. They are also examining possible links to Delhi's Bhagirath Palace market to determine the full scale of the operation. With rising demand for tirzepatide-based medicines and high prices, officials warn that such drugs are increasingly vulnerable to counterfeiting.
Eli Lilly's Response
An Eli Lilly (India) spokesperson confirmed awareness of the seizure and expressed support for the investigation. The company stated, 'We have been made aware of a recent development in relation to seizure of suspicious and counterfeit products that allegedly carry our product brand name Mounjaro (Tirzepatide). The said seizure resulted from an enforcement drive conducted in Gurgaon by officials from the state drugs regulatory authority. Lilly takes patient safety extremely seriously and welcomes the regulatory authority's action against illicit medicines. We are actively supporting the investigation and will continue to work with regulatory and law enforcement authorities worldwide to protect patients from the risks of counterfeit products.'
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities committed to uncovering the full extent of the counterfeit operation.
