Nagpur: In a late-night crackdown, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Lakadganj Police seized a substantial quantity of codeine-based cough syrups and other regulated drugs allegedly being sold illegally at Bhagwati Medical Stores in Masurkar Chowk, Itwari.
According to the FIR lodged by Drug Inspector Prashant Rajendra Ramteke, the FDA received reliable information that the store was selling codeine-based cough syrups without prescriptions—substances often misused by youngsters for intoxication. Following the tip-off, a joint team was formed, equipped with sealing and documentation materials, and a decoy was sent to the shop around 11.45 pm on November 18.
The decoy successfully purchased Onerex Cough Syrup, confirming illegal sale. The team immediately raided the premises and detained staffer Tushar Pawan Agrawal, from whom the marked ₹500 note used in the sting operation was recovered. During inspection, officials found 59 bottles of Onerex Cough Syrup and 12 bottles of Kufdeine Cough Syrup, all stocked without bills. Many bottles had erased batch numbers, raising questions about their source.
Agrawal reportedly admitted that the medicines were procured without proper documentation from a person identified as Bharatkumar Amarnani. Officers stated that college students and anti-social elements widely misuse codeine syrups, making their illegal circulation a serious concern.
Acting on further leads, the team searched Agrawal’s residence near Parsodkar Caterers in Itwari. A large quantity of Schedule H and H1 drugs— including Alprazolam, Tramadol, Sildenafil Citrate, and additional codeine syrups—was found stored without any licence or purchase records. The premises, belonging to Agrawal’s grandmother, reportedly had no authorisation for storing pharmaceutical stock.
FDA officials collected samples of several medicines for laboratory analysis, while the remaining stock was seized in the presence of panch witnesses. Authorities stated that the accused violated multiple provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, by storing and selling controlled medicines without prescription and without mandatory licences.
Lakadganj Police have registered a case and initiated further investigation to identify the supply chain and other individuals linked to the illegal distribution network.
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