It sits in medicine cabinets across India. A small brown bottle. A familiar green label. A name trusted for decades: Himalaya Liv.52. Marketed as a liver-support formulation, Liv-52 is one of the most recognisable over-the-counter herbal products in the country. Now imagine discovering that what you thought was a trusted supplement may actually have been a counterfeit tablet pressed in an illegal unit.

Authorities have busted an alleged racket manufacturing fake Liv-52 tablets in Sonipat, with bottles and packaging reportedly produced in meerut and distributed through a network extending into Ghaziabad. Five individuals — mayank Agrawal, Anup Garg, Tushar Thakur, Aakash Thakur, and Nitin Tyagi — have reportedly been arrested.

This isn’t just about fake branding. It’s about public health.

🏭 1. The Anatomy of a Counterfeit Operation

According to reports:

• Tablets were allegedly manufactured in Sonipat.

• Bottles and wrappers were printed and assembled in Meerut.

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• The supply chain moved through Ghaziabad.

Counterfeit operations often operate in fragments — manufacturing in one location, packaging in another, distribution elsewhere — to avoid detection.

When all pieces are combined, the result looks legitimate on a pharmacy shelf.

💊 2. Why Fake Medicines Are More Dangerous Than Fake Brands

Counterfeit fashion is a trademark violation.
Counterfeit medicine is a health risk.

With fake tablets, consumers don’t know:

• What ingredients are inside

• Whether they meet safety standards

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• If they contain contaminants

• Whether dosage consistency exists

Even if the fake product contains harmless fillers, it denies patients the intended therapeutic benefit. If it contains unsafe compounds, the risks escalate sharply.

🧪 3. Liv-52’s Position in the Market

The Himalaya Drug Company has built Liv-52 into one of India’s most widely recognised herbal formulations.

It’s commonly used for:

• Liver function support

• Appetite stimulation

• Adjunct therapy in certain liver disorders

That popularity makes it a prime target for counterfeiters. High demand plus wide distribution equals a lucrative imitation opportunity.

🔥 4. The Bigger Problem: India’s Counterfeit Drug Challenge

India’s pharmaceutical ecosystem is vast — thousands of manufacturers, distributors, and retail chemists.

While most operate legitimately, counterfeit and substandard medicines remain a recurring enforcement challenge.

Common vulnerabilities include:

• Informal supply chains

• Small retail outlets sourcing from unverified distributors

• Consumer's inability to distinguish authentic from fake

The more trusted a product, the easier it is to replicate visually.

🚔 5. The Arrests and Legal Consequences

Authorities have arrested five accused individuals in connection with the alleged racket.

If proven in court, charges under drug and cosmetics laws can carry significant penalties, including imprisonment and fines.

Counterfeit medicine cases are treated more seriously than ordinary trademark violations because they directly affect public health.

🧠 6. How Consumers Can Protect Themselves

In light of such cases, basic precautions matter:

• Purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies

• Check packaging quality and batch numbers

• Look for tamper-proof seals

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• Cross-verify suspicious batches with the company helpline

• Avoid unusually discounted offers on health products

If something feels off, it often is.

⚖️ 7. The Trust Factor

health products operate on trust.

When counterfeiters infiltrate that trust, damage extends beyond one brand. It erodes confidence in the entire supply chain.

The crackdown is a reminder that enforcement matters — but so does vigilance.

The Bottom Line

This case is not just about fake tablets in Sonipat or packaging in Meerut.

It’s about how easily a household name can be exploited — and how vulnerable consumers are when counterfeit networks slip through regulatory gaps.

Medicine cabinets should not become crime scenes.

And every time a fake drug is seized, it raises one urgent question:

How many slipped through before this one was caught?