Story perspectives

Karnataka FDA Cancels 16 Drug Licences, Suspends Eight

By Drooid · Sep 21, 2026, 4:05 AM UTC · How we work

Center

Officials Suspended After Raid

The Karnataka Food and Drug Administration cancelled 16 licences and suspended eight after an August 18 raid on a facility in Kurubarakeranahalli, Bidadi.
The FDA blocked the medicines’ batch numbers on its portal and sent samples for laboratory testing to verify composition and potency.
A criminal case was filed under 1940 Drugs and Cosmetics Act, citing Sections 17B and 27.
Health Minister U.T. Khader said officials had been suspended in connection with the raid.

Right

Minister Threatens Firms

The Karnataka Food and Drug Administration cancelled 16 drug licences and suspended eight after an August 18 raid on an unlicensed facility in Kurubarakeranahalli, Bidadi.
Health Minister U.T. Khader said the government will spare no one, even large firms, and criticised Pfizer for not cooperating with the investigation.
Officials seized spurious medicines, packaging and injection-filling machinery worth about Rs 5.05 crore.
The haul included 5,640 CEFIAVIGENT 2.5 vials, 1,531 HIZLAM vials and 264 forged-Pfizer vials.

Blindspot

Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Khader said the government will spare no one, even large firms, and criticised Pfizer for not cooperating with the investigation.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Right-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Center-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

India’s Drugs and Cosmetics Act, first passed in 1940, was strengthened by the 1995 amendment that gave state drug controllers authority to cancel licences and seize counterfeit products. Leveraging those powers, Karnataka’s food-and-drug authority recently revoked sixteen licences and confiscated spurious Pfizer-branded vaccine vials, illustrating the amendment’s lasting impact on public-health enforcement.

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Officials Suspended After Raid

The Karnataka Food and Drug Administration cancelled 16 licences and suspended eight after an August 18 raid on a facility in Kurubarakeranahalli, Bidadi.
The FDA blocked the medicines’ batch numbers on its portal and sent samples for laboratory testing to verify composition and potency.
A criminal case was filed under 1940 Drugs and Cosmetics Act, citing Sections 17B and 27.
Health Minister U.T. Khader said officials had been suspended in connection with the raid.

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