Surat pharmacy operator arrested for selling animal liver tonic as children's medicine

A medical store operator in Surat has been taken into custody by the Special Operations Group (SOG) following an investigation into fraudulent pharmaceutical practices in the city. The accused is alleged to have been dispensing livestock liver tonic—sourced from horses and cattle—while misrepresenting it as Liv.52 Drops, a widely used hepatic supplement for children.

The discovery of the scam represents a serious breach of pharmaceutical regulations and consumer safety standards. Liv.52 Drops, a branded formulation commonly recommended for pediatric liver support, was being systematically replaced with animal-derived products without consumer knowledge.

Police have launched a formal investigation into the matter to determine the extent of the operation, the number of affected consumers, and whether other retail outlets were involved in similar practices. Authorities are examining supply chains and records from the medical store to establish how long the substitution had been occurring.

The incident has raised concerns about the need for stricter oversight of pharmaceutical retail operations across Gujarat. Health officials are expected to conduct inspections at similar establishments to prevent further incidents of drug counterfeiting and consumer fraud in the region.