Adulteration of drugs

What this section does

Punishes adulteration of a drug or medical preparation in a manner that lessens its efficacy, changes its operation, or makes it noxious, where the accused intends or knows it is likely to be sold or used for medicinal purposes as if unadulterated.

AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).

Quick reference

Punishment

Imprisonment of either description for up to 1 year, or fine up to ₹5,000, or both.

Triable by

Any Magistrate

Cognizable

No

Bailable

Yes

Compoundable

No

Ingredients (what prosecution must prove)

1. The accused adulterated a drug or medical preparation
2. The adulteration lessened its efficacy, changed its operation, or made it noxious
3. The accused intended it to be sold or used for medicinal purposes, or knew it was likely to be so sold or used, as if it had not been adulterated

Derived from IPC s.274.