Maharashtra FDA Seizes ₹73 Lakh Medicines In Crackdown On Misleading Ads
Maharashtra FDA seized medicines worth over ₹73 lakh, including Patanjali-linked products, in a statewide crackdown on misleading health claims and advertisements.
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The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has initiated a statewide crackdown on alleged misleading advertisements by pharmaceutical companies, seizing medicines worth over ₹73 lakh, including Patanjali-linked products worth more than ₹51 lakh, a report by Hindustan Times said.
The crackdown focused on medicines allegedly marketed with exaggerated therapeutic claims and banned health promises, underscoring growing regulatory scrutiny of the Ayurveda, herbal wellness and alternative medicine sectors.
The officials conducted coordinated inspections in seven regional divisions of the state - Mumbai, Konkan, Pune, Nashik, Amravati, Nagpur and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar under provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, the report said.
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Regulatory Crackdown:
The action followed directions issued by Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe soon after assuming charge last week.
Much of the confiscated stock was traced to Divya Pharmacy, the Haridwar-based firm linked to yoga guru Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali group, the report said.
Some products were being promoted with claims of guaranteed cures, miraculous results and treatment of serious diseases, a practice prohibited under existing regulations, authorities said.
The seized products included Drushti Eye Drop, Giloy Ghan Vati, Kutaj Ghan Vati, Cystogrit Diamond tablets, Neurogrit Gold capsules, Madhugrit tablets and Memorygrit tablets.
The Konkan division recorded the highest seizure of Patanjali products valued at Rs 18.58 lakh, followed by Pune at Rs 14.68 lakh and Nagpur at Rs 7.26 lakh.
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During the inspections, FDA officials in Pune also seized misbranded allopathic medicines valued at ₹21.83 lakh.
The enforcement action highlights the growing attention from the regulatory community on health and wellness companies that make broad medical or therapeutic claims when selling their products.
India’s Ayurveda and wellness industry has seen rapid growth in recent years, fuelled by increasing consumer interest in preventive healthcare, natural remedies and traditional medicine.
