Ahmedabad, August 28: The Gujarat Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) has seized cosmetic materials and related items valued at over ₹2.68 lakh from a firm in the Tragad area of Ahmedabad. It was discovered that the products were being manufactured and repackaged without the necessary licenses and quality testing.
Acting on confidential information, an FDCA team conducted a surprise inspection at ‘Aankhi Herbal’ on August 25. According to the department, the firm was producing cosmetic materials and repackaging products from bulk packs without obtaining the required licenses or conducting quality tests.
Officials confiscated a variety of stock, including fairness creams, dark circle creams, shampoos, hair oils, body washes, face washes, scrubs, solid perfumes, and glycerin-based soaps. Raw materials, packaging materials, and printed labels were also seized, bringing the total value of the materials to over ₹2.68 lakh.
The investigation revealed that the bulk materials used in this operation were allegedly purchased from ‘Ravi Marketing’ located in the Odhav area of Ahmedabad. The department stated, “Cosmetic materials were illegally packaged in a flat located at Shivanta Regal, and glycerin soaps were produced.”
The scope of the investigation has been expanded to include Ravi Marketing. FDCA officials also collected samples of ten different cosmetic products from the premises for laboratory analysis to assess their quality.
This action comes as the state food and drug regulatory administration intensifies enforcement against unauthorized cosmetic manufacturing and repackaging. The department indicated that further legal action would be taken against activities that jeopardize public health and safety.
Health Minister Prabhul Pansheria emphasized that the government would adopt a ‘zero tolerance’ approach towards such activities and continue strict legal actions against violators.
Additionally, the Ahmedabad City Crime Branch and FDCA have dismantled an interstate gang allegedly involved in the manufacturing, purchasing, and distribution of counterfeit blood pressure medications. Three individuals from Ahmedabad and Lucknow have been arrested.
The investigation began after a pharmaceutical company based in Ankleshwar alerted the FDCA about counterfeit versions of Nicardia Retard 10, a sustained-release medication used for hypertension, being sold in the market.
Investigators traced the suspected counterfeit goods back to medical stores and agencies in Gujarat, identifying connections to suppliers in Lucknow and Jaipur. According to the investigation, thirty strips of the suspected counterfeit medication were recovered from Kishan Medical Store in Nadiad, while additional stock was seized from Navkar Medical Agency and Mahadev Medical Agency in Bhuj.
This supply from Kutch is linked to AVR Medicos based in Jaipur. The three arrested individuals have been identified as 39-year-old Dashiil Sanghvi from Ahmedabad, 39-year-old Devendra Yadav from Lucknow, and 34-year-old Umang Rastogi. The investigation is ongoing, and a case has been registered with the crime branch.
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