Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials seized products worth Rs 1.52 crore from various parts of Maharashtra during a special drive against misleading advertisements last month. Ninety-four raids were conducted during the month-long drive. As many as 263 products claiming, to cure diabetes, obesity, impotency, short height, mental disorders, cancer and rheumatism were seized by the officials in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Kolhapur, Aurangabad and the Konkan region. "The special drive was taken up after several complaints about objectionable advertisements. It was carried out simultaneously in all seven administrative divisions," state FDA commissioner Harshadeep Kamble said.

Products seized during the raids included a sugar-like syrup for diabetic patients and herbal solutions claiming to cure obesity, enhance virility and increase physical height.

"Some seized products include Abhay Medari Slim Fit Syrup, Stay-on, Fat Go Capsule, V-slim Capsule, 303 capsule, Sugar Nashak Vati, My Fair Cream, RV Caps, DyeMedica, Ashvatul DX Capsule, Long Height Extra Strong Capsule, Fat cure ras, Look Like-16 among others," Kamble said.

As per provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act, 1954, no person can take part in the publication of any advertisement referring to any drug, which suggests or leads to the use of that drug for diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or cure or any disease mentioned in the schedule to the Act.

There are 54 diseases/disorders conditions mentioned in the said schedule. Such advertisements are published in newspapers and magazines, and appear on TV and other media.