Gujarat Fake Vaccine Case

In early 2025, authorities in Gujarat, India, uncovered a massive fake vaccine ring that had administered thousands of doses of saline water and spurious substances instead of genuine childhood and COVID-19 booster vaccines. The conspiracy, orchestrated by a network including Dr. Sanjay Rathore and Vikram Chauhan through MediCure Biotech, operated across multiple private clinics and fake vaccination camps. Several children suffered severe vaccine-preventable diseases, and at least two infant deaths were linked to lack of immunization. An investigation by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch and the FDCA Gujarat revealed that the counterfeit vials were manufactured in an unlicensed facility and affixed with forged government labels. The case triggered widespread panic and led to a massive re-vaccination drive.

The trial, fast-tracked in the Gujarat High Court, concluded in late 2025. Dr. Sanjay Rathore and Vikram Chauhan were convicted of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, and violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. They received life imprisonment and were fined ₹2 crore each. MediCure Biotech's license was permanently revoked, and three other accomplices received 10-year sentences. The court also directed the state government to pay ₹25 lakh in compensation to each victim's family.

The central dispute revolved around whether health authorities and regulatory bodies were negligent in failing to detect the counterfeit vaccines during procurement and distribution. Additionally, questions were raised about the criminal liability of the manufacturers versus the administering clinics, and the extent of compensation to the families of the deceased and affected children.

The scandal severely eroded public trust in the vaccination program across India, leading to a temporary decline in routine childhood immunization rates. It prompted the central government to mandate track-and-trace barcodes on all vaccine vials, restructure the drug regulatory authority, and launch an independent vaccine safety audit. The case also ignited a parliamentary debate on the need for stricter penalties for drug counterfeiting, with a new bill proposing the death penalty for offenders whose spurious drugs cause death.