Police in Gurugram have busted one of India’s first counterfeit networks dealing in fake Mounjaro KwikPen injections, seizing stock worth over ₹56 lakh and arresting two men. The case has alarmed health officials and raised urgent questions about patient safety across the country.
The seizure took place on April 18, when drug control officers intercepted a cab near DLF Phase-IV carrying spurious versions of the diabetes and weight-loss drug manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly. Two men, Mujammil Khan, a medical representative, and Avi Sharma, a 32-year-old BBA graduate, were arrested on the spot for violating the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
What is Mounjaro?
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is an injectable medication approved for Type 2 diabetes management. It has surged in demand in recent months due to widespread off-label use for weight loss since Eli Lilly launched it in India in March 2024. The drug comes in six dosage strengths, 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg, each marked with a distinct colour label. Every genuine pen has a purple injector button that does not move or extend.
“As of now, Sharma seems to be the only one who ran this entire operation,” Drugs Control Officer Amandeep Chauhan told the Times of India. “From his residential premises, we recovered another Rs 14 lakh worth of such spurious injections,” he added.
Sharma allegedly manufactured the fake injections at his home in Sector 62, Gurugram, beginning April 2. When officers asked him to produce a valid production licence, he admitted he held none and told officials he was solely responsible. Investigators are now probing whether the drugs were relabelled or assembled locally and are tracing the wider supply chain.
Authorities have issued a public warning covering six batch numbers under investigation: D949702 (10 mg), D924668 (2.5 mg), D983868 (7.5 mg), D928027 (5 mg), D894806 (12.5 mg), and D949932 (15 mg). Patients, doctors, and chemists are advised not to use or dispense injections carrying these numbers until verification is complete.
How to identify fake Mounjaro
Physical inspection of the seized stock against genuine Eli Lilly products revealed clear signs of counterfeiting. Officials found missing or altered cold-chain storage instructions, authentic Mounjaro must be stored between 2°C and 8°C, along with differences in label font and format, incorrect manufacturer details, and errors in packaging markings.
The United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) flagged a similar case involving a Birmingham pharmacy. Dr. Alison Cave, Chief Safety Officer at the MHRA, advised patients: “Check the batch number and strength of your KwikPen. If you have one of the affected pens, stop using it straight away.”
Cave warned that if a pen’s contents are not sterile, patients face a risk of infection. Warning signs include redness, swelling or warmth at the injection site, pain, fluid leakage, mild fever, or chills. Allergic reactions, such as a rash, itching or difficulty breathing, are also possible and require urgent medical attention.
Drug safety officials say patients should buy Mounjaro only from licensed pharmacies. Any pen with a dose knob that detaches, a label that does not adhere properly, or packaging that lacks correct storage and manufacturer information should be treated as suspect and reported to authorities immediately.
Samples from the Gurugram seizure have been sent for laboratory testing. Investigators are now examining whether any of the flagged batches have already reached consumers through clinics or retail pharmacies.
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