Bhopal police bust massive fake cough syrup racket worth Rs 1.5 crore

Police in Bhopal have uncovered a large-scale operation producing fake cough syrup. On Saturday, officers seized over 23,000 bottles worth Rs 50 lakh from a hideout in Mubarakpur. The discovery follows a raid on Friday that dismantled an illegal factory in Patel City Colony. The Special Task Force (STF) first raided a fake syrup manufacturing unit in Patel City Colony on Friday. Two adults and three minors were arrested, and materials worth Rs 1 crore were confiscated. During questioning, the suspects disclosed a second location in Mubarakpur.

On Saturday evening, officers searched the Mubarakpur hideout and recovered 23,124 counterfeit bottles. The haul included 22,154 bottles of Off-Kuff and 970 bottles of Onrex. Investigators also found 4,000 empty bottles at the site.

The accused had been repackaging expired cough syrup with new wrappers, batch numbers, and false expiry dates. The fake products were then distributed to rural areas in districts near Bhopal. Aqueel Khan, the main suspect, was remanded for five days as police probe the source of the expired materials and the supply network. Authorities are now tracing the origins of the expired ingredients and tracking where the fake syrup was sold. The operation has disrupted a major counterfeit medicine ring in central India. Further arrests and seizures remain possible as the investigation continues.