Drug regulatory and law enforcement agencies have intensified action against the illegal manufacture and distribution of misbranded and spurious medicines following the seizure of a misbranded batch of Abhayrab rabies vaccine in Delhi.
According to a public notice issued on September 5, 2026, the Crime Branch of Delhi Police, along with Drugs Inspectors from the Drugs Control Department, Government of NCT of Delhi, conducted a search on April 22, 2026, at an unlicensed premises at Indra Vikas, Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi. During the operation, officials seized Rabies Vaccine (Abhayrab), Batch No. KE25012.
The seized vaccine was subsequently found to be misbranded and not manufactured by Indian Immunologicals Ltd. CDSCO officials collected legal samples from the premises and forwarded them to the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL), Kasauli, for examination. The laboratory later reported the product as Not of Standard Quality (NSQ) and misbranded.
The Government Analyst's examination identified several differences between the seized sample and the retained sample of the genuine product. The differences included variations in the font, size and position of the ® symbol, product name presentation, preservative concentration, diluent details, warning-box text, colour and company logo, artwork number, QR code, text alignment and hologram.
The laboratory report also noted differences in the vial and packaging. For example, the artwork number on the seized sample was PLM0395/07/22, whereas the retained sample carried PLM0395/08/24. Differences were also observed in the diluent manufacturing licence number and other packaging details.
The Government Analyst nevertheless reported that the sample passed tests for sterility, moisture content, thiomersal content, potency and identity, while the label review showed the product to be misbranded.
Following the laboratory findings, the office of the Drugs Controller General (India) communicated the details to States and Union Territories for regulatory vigilance and necessary action. In a communication dated August 27, 2026, State Drugs Controllers were asked to alert their inspectorate staff and maintain strict vigilance over the movement, distribution and availability of the affected batch.
The authorities have also clarified that the manufacturer of Abhayrab issued a public communication concerning the misbranded product and reaffirmed its quality-control commitments. According to the notice, genuine batches of Abhayrab are released for sale only after independent testing and batch-release certification by CDL, Kasauli.
The manufacturer has further confirmed that no part of the affected batch was exported to any other country.
The seizure and subsequent action are part of an ongoing coordinated enforcement effort involving CDSCO, Delhi's Drugs Control Department, State Drug Control authorities and law enforcement agencies to detect unauthorized manufacturing and distribution of medicines.
In connection with the case, four persons have been arrested by Delhi Police. Further investigation and legal action are being undertaken by the competent authorities.
