New Delhi: A suspected counterfeit rabies vaccine racket has been uncovered in Delhi after authorities raided a residential flat in Mukherjee Nagar earlier this year. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) said on Saturday that the operation led to the recovery of spurious samples of Abhayrab, a human rabies vaccine.
Four people have been arrested in connection with the case. Laboratory tests later confirmed that the seized vaccine was not manufactured by Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL), the company that produces Abhayrab.
Spurious Abhayrab Vaccine Recovered From Delhi Flat
According to CDSCO, searches were conducted in April by the Crime Branch and Delhi Police, along with Drugs Inspectors from the Drugs Control Department.
During the searches at an unlicensed residential premises in Mukherjee Nagar, officials recovered vaccine vials carrying the Abhayrab label and batch number KE25012.
However, laboratory testing established that the seized vaccine had not been manufactured by IIL.
Vaccine Failed Government Laboratory Tests
A field sample of the seized vaccine was sent to the government’s Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) in Kasauli for testing.
The sample failed to meet the required potency standards and was classified as “not of standard quality” and a “misbranded” drug, officials said.
CDSCO also confirmed that the vaccine samples were collected from an unlicensed residential premises in Mukherjee Nagar.
17 Differences Found Between Fake and Genuine Vials
IIL Vice President, Quality Management, Sunil Tiwari, said the company examined the seized samples and compared them with its retention samples from the same batch.
According to IIL, the CDL report identified 17 differences between the seized vials and the company’s genuine retention samples.
The discrepancies reportedly involved several aspects, including:
- Labelling
- Artwork
- QR code verification
- Cap colour
- Licence information
- Packaging text
These differences helped establish that the seized vials were not genuine products manufactured by IIL.
Genuine Batch Was Released After Government Checks
IIL said the genuine batch had been released only after completing the government-mandated quality checks.
The company stated that 83,370 vials from the affected batch were supplied through its authorised distribution network.
IIL also said it had not received any market complaints regarding the genuine batch.
The company has provided its manufacturing and distribution records to CDSCO and urged authorities to investigate the source of the counterfeit vials.
Drug Regulators Ordered to Increase Surveillance
The development comes after a communication issued by the Drugs Controller General of India on August 27, directing state drug controllers to increase surveillance over the movement and availability of the affected batch.
States were also informed about specific instances of misbranding so that appropriate regulatory action could be taken.
IIL Says Authorised Vaccine Supply Was Not Affected
IIL has maintained that every batch of Abhayrab undergoes independent government testing before being released into the market.
The company also clarified that vaccines supplied through authorised channels, including hospitals and licensed pharmacies, were not affected by the counterfeit vaccine issue.
The investigation will now focus on identifying the source of the spurious vials and determining how they entered the supply chain.
Rabies Remains a Major Public Health Concern in India
The counterfeit vaccine case has also highlighted India’s continuing battle against rabies.
A 2025 study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, estimated that around 5,726 people die from rabies in India every year.
The study was based on a nationwide survey covering nearly 79,000 households. It found that dogs were responsible for approximately three out of every four animal bites reported in the country.
The alleged counterfeit vaccine racket has therefore raised serious concerns about the safety and authenticity of medicines used to prevent a potentially fatal disease such as rabies.