Fake Diabetes and Weight-Loss Injection Factory Busted in Gurugram Residential Flat
Drug control officials arrest two men after uncovering a counterfeit manufacturing operation producing knockoff Mounjaro injections, with raw materials sourced from China and finished products worth ₹70 lakh already seized
Health authorities in Gurugram have dismantled a clandestine factory operating out of a residential apartment that was producing counterfeit versions of Mounjaro — the branded Tirzepatide injection used to treat diabetes and aid weight loss — with two individuals now in custody.
The operation came to light on Sunday when a drug control team intercepted a vehicle in DLF Phase-4 and recovered fake injections valued at approximately ₹70 lakh. Following leads from that seizure, officials traced the supply back to Flat No. 605 in Pivotal Paradise Society, Sector-62, where they conducted a raid on Monday and uncovered the full manufacturing setup.
Investigators found that raw drug material was being imported from China and then diluted with water inside the flat before being filled into injection vials. The entire production chain — including barcoding, labelling, and packaging — was being carried out within the same apartment, and packaging machinery was recovered from the premises.
Drug Control Officer Amandeep Chauhan confirmed that Mounjaro is an Italian import, licensed for use in diabetes management and, on medical advice, for obesity treatment. “We had received intelligence that a counterfeit injection network was operating in Gurugram,” he said, adding that while the fake product closely resembles the original, subtle differences in labelling exist — though these would be virtually undetectable to an ordinary consumer.
Two accused have been arrested in connection with the case — Muzzammil, a resident of Uttar Pradesh who was picked up during the initial DLF Phase-4 interception, and Avi Sharma, a Gurugram resident detained following the raid on the flat. Authorities have informed Eli Lilly, the company that manufactures the drug, about the counterfeiting operation.
A nationwide alert has been issued across health departments, along with batch numbers of the suspected fake consignments, enabling field teams to identify and intercept spurious stock. Investigators are now working to map the full distribution network and determine how widely the counterfeit injections have been circulated across India.
Public health analyst Sameer Bhati warned of serious health risks associated with using fake versions of the drug, noting that reactions could range from allergic responses and facial swelling in the short term to severe liver damage over prolonged use. He pointed out that the surging popularity of Tirzepatide — reportedly used by Bollywood celebrities and the general public alike for weight management — had created the demand that fraudsters moved quickly to exploit.
“Using such medication without a doctor’s prescription is extremely dangerous,” Bhati cautioned, “and counterfeit versions amplify that risk manifold.”
Investigations into the wider racket are ongoing.
