Hyderabad: A quack clinic raid in Hanumakonda district led to the seizure of illegally stocked medicines after officials of the Drugs Control Administration, Telangana conducted a surprise inspection based on credible information, authorities said on Wednesday.
The raid was carried out on January 6, 2026, at a clinic operating under the name First Aid Clinic in Damera village of Elkathurthi mandal. Officials found that the clinic was being run by Swargam Sathish Babu, an unqualified practitioner, without any valid medical or drug licence. During the inspection, officers detected 30 varieties of medicines stocked for sale in violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
According to the Drugs Control Administration, the seized stock included antibiotics, steroids, analgesics, anti-ulcer drugs, and antihypertensive medicines. The total value of the seized medicines was estimated at Rs. 21,650. Officials warned that the indiscriminate sale of antibiotics by unqualified persons could lead to serious public health risks, including antimicrobial resistance.
The presence of steroids at the clinic also raised concerns. Officials said misuse of steroids could result in immune suppression, hormonal imbalance, cardiovascular complications, and psychological effects, posing significant danger to patients treated outside the regulated medical system.
Quack clinic raid highlights risks of unlicensed drug sale
The quack clinic raid was conducted by Drugs Inspector J. Kiran Kumar of Hanumakonda under the supervision of Dr. G. Rajyalakshmi, Assistant Director, Warangal. Samples of the seized medicines were lifted for analysis, and officials said further investigation was under way. Legal action would be initiated against all offenders as per the law.
In an advisory, the Drugs Control Administration warned wholesalers and dealers against supplying medicines to quacks, unqualified persons, or unlicensed establishments. Officials said any dealer found part of an illegal supply chain would face penal action under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Stocking medicines for sale without a valid drug licence is punishable with imprisonment of up to five years.
The department urged the public to report illegal activities related to medicines, including suspected drug manufacturing or sale in residential, commercial, or industrial areas, through the DCA Telangana toll-free number 1800-599-6969 during working hours.
