In a major raid, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seized huge stocks of Betnovate C and Betnovate N creams from various medical stores in the city that contain Betamethasome Valerate, a steroid. While these creams are usually prescribed for skin ailments, the FDA has found that they are being misused for fairness purposes which can lead to skin thinning.
Acting on a tip-off that these creams were being sold in large quantities sans proper receipts, the FDA conducted the first raid at Desai Pharma at Princess Street which had sold creams with false receipts to Bhiwandi-based Pravin Medical; a store which did not exist in Bhiwandi, FDA discovered. Desai Pharma had also sold creams worth Rs 40 lakh to Hitesh Bhagidar from Adarsh Sales in Bhat Bazar, Mumbai. This entire stock was bought by Gautam Lalwani from Raipur, Chhatisgarh, without receipts. Also, Adarsh Sales sold Rs 2 lakh worth stock to Amrut Sanghavi of Sanghavi Enterprises at Tulsi Pipe Road without receipts.
Even as the nexus unfolded, FDA officials kept wondering as to why such a huge stock would be required in small town Raipur. “I spoke to a few dermatologists in Raipur asking them why the cream was required in such a huge quantity. They said that local beauty parlours were mixing these creams in fairness creams. However, they had side effects as they contained Betamethasone Valerate. While they gave desired results, they also led to thinning of skin and skin cancer,”
Joint Commissioner (Vigilance), FDA, Harish Baijal, told The Asian Age. He added that since these creams were available for just Rs 1 for 1 gram, they were cheaply available for mixing.
FDA has registered two FIRs at L.T. Marg and Elphinstone Road police stations against the dealers. Further investigation is underway to check if any reputed companies are also mixing these creams in fairness creams, said Mr Baijal.
When contacted, dermatologist Dr Alok Dixit from Raipur confirmed that the creams were being used for fairness purposes and had deep side effects. “It is being sold over the counter and also mixed in fairness creams. It gives glow initially as blood vessels emerge prominently. But it leads to thinning and atrophy of the skin. The person gets unwanted hair on the body and there is danger of cataract at a very early stage. We receive at least five cases every day with the said skin problems,” he said.
