Nicardia Retard Probe Widens: ₹3.5 Lakh Suspected Duplicate Stock Seized In Gujarat

The investigation into suspected duplicate Nicardia Retard 10 mg and 20 mg tablets has widened in Gujarat, with drug authorities recovering medicines worth around ₹3.5 lakh from dealers in Nadiad and Bhavnagar.

The development comes days after the Gujarat Food and Drug Commissioner’s office raided more than 30 medicine dealers across Ahmedabad, Vadodara and other parts of the state following concerns that Nicardia Retard was being sold at unusually high discounts.

One person has also reportedly been arrested from Sanand in connection with the probe.

Duplicate Batch Number Raises Alarm

The latest investigation reportedly began after the original company holding the Nicardia Retard brand complained to the Food and Drug Commissioner’s office that medicines bearing duplicate batch numbers in the company's name were being circulated in the market.

The suspected medicines were allegedly being sold at prices significantly lower than the usual market rate. Dealers are generally allowed a margin of around 10%, while some dealers were reportedly offering discounts of 17-18%, raising questions over the authenticity and source of the stock.

1,250 Tablets Recovered From Nadiad, Ahmedabad Dealers

During the raids, officials reportedly recovered 660 tablets of Nicardia Retard 10 mg from Kisan Medical Store in Nadiad. The packaging allegedly carried the name of J.B. Chemicals, Bharuch.

Another 590 tablets were reportedly recovered from Parshva Medical Agency in Paldi, Ahmedabad. Other medicines, including Silakar-5, Silakar-10 and Silakar 10 TM-50, were also reportedly found there.

Samples of the suspected medicines have been collected and sent to a laboratory in Vadodara for examination. The laboratory findings will establish whether the medicines are counterfeit, substandard or genuine.

Probe Reportedly Reaches Lucknow

Investigators are reportedly examining the supply chain after the medicines were allegedly traced to suppliers in Lucknow.

According to sources familiar with the investigation, some dealers had procured the heavily discounted medicines from outside Gujarat. Authorities are now working to identify the suppliers and determine how the suspected duplicate stock entered the state's pharmaceutical market.

Sources in the medicine trade have claimed that around 24,000 strips of the suspected duplicate batch may have entered the market, although a significant portion was allegedly sold before the raids.

Several Dealers Under Scanner

More than 30 dealers across Gujarat have reportedly come under the scanner. However, officials allegedly found that many dealers had already sold the stock they had received.

The investigation is now focusing on the purchase records of the dealers, including who supplied the medicines, the quantity purchased and the distribution network through which the stock reached Gujarat.

Drug-market sources have also raised concerns over whether some dealers could escape scrutiny if their supply records are not thoroughly examined.

Wider Drug Quality Drive Continues

The Nicardia Retard investigation comes alongside a wider quality-control drive by Gujarat's Food and Drug Commissioner’s office.

Authorities have begun collecting antibiotic samples from all 33 districts, with a particular focus on rural areas amid concerns over the sale of substandard medicines.

The department has also intensified checks against the sale of antibiotics without prescriptions, with medicine sellers being inspected across the state.

Further details of the Nicardia Retard investigation are expected as laboratory reports and the findings of the supply-chain probe become available.