The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has busted a counterfeit skincare racket in Pune’s Shivajinagarlocality, seizing fake units of the widely used Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (118 ml) from a local trader.
The operation forms part of a broader statewide enforcement push led by FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe against spurious medicines and cosmetics, with parallel violations also flagged in Nagpur. Officials picked up samples for testing during a routine inspection, and while lab results showed the product met basic quality benchmarks, a closer review exposed inconsistencies in the packaging, labelling, print quality and security markings compared with the authentic version sold by Galderma India and manufactured by Encube Ethicals.
Both companies later confirmed the stock hadn’t come from their official supply chain, prompting the FDA to brand it counterfeit. Goods worth roughly ₹5,508 were confiscated on June 22 under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and a case has since been filed at Chatushrungi police station as authorities work to trace how the fake products entered the market.
Written By: Sayan Das
Graphics by: Pramit Hazra
