THE spotlight is now firmly on Platinum Rx Affolife Retail Private Limited, a Bengaluru-based online pharmacy, after senior drug regulatory authorities in Greater Mumbai and Delhi formally escalated complaints alleging illegal online sale and inter-state delivery of prescription-only medicines.
In an unusual convergence of regulatory action, complaints concerning Platinum Rx have been officially forwarded by two state drug control departments to the Drug Controller, Karnataka, seeking enforcement under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Official Correspondence Confirms Serious Regulatory Concern
On 16 December 2025, the Joint Commissioner (Drugs), Food and Drug Administration, Greater Mumbai, forwarded a complaint to the Drug Controller, Karnataka, stating that Platinum Rx Affolife Retail Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru, was allegedly engaged in the unauthorised online sale and delivery of Schedule H and Schedule H1 category medicines.
The Mumbai FDA noted that the company supplied prescription medicines to Mumbai addresses despite having no retail drug licence in Maharashtra, and requested Karnataka authorities to initiate necessary action, as the firm falls under their territorial jurisdiction.
Earlier, on 06 January 2025, the Head of the Drug Control Department, Government of NCT of Delhi, also forwarded a complaint relating to Platinum Rx to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) and the Drug Controller, Karnataka, asking that action be taken as deemed fit under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
Prescription Medicines Without Prescriptions
The complaints allege that Platinum Rx supplied antibiotics, cough syrups, and other Schedule H / H1 medicines through online mode without prescriptions from Registered Medical Practitioners, violating Rule 65 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. More troubling is the allegation that medicines were dispatched without verification even when orders were placed in the names of senior drug regulatory officials, exposing a complete absence of due diligence, pharmacist supervision, or regulatory oversight. This goes beyond procedural non-compliance and raises concerns of systematic disregard for drug control laws.
High Court Warnings Ignored
The alleged conduct assumes added gravity in light of binding orders of the Delhi High Court and Madras High Court, which have restrained online sale of medicines without statutory backing, proper licensing, and patient safeguards. Yet, despite clear judicial warnings, online platforms continue to exploit inter-state jurisdictional gaps, often operating faster than enforcement mechanisms can respond.
Public Interest Exposure Triggers Action
The matter came to light following a public-interest complaint filed by Dr. Vedprakash Tiwari, Advocate, High Court, who placed invoices, delivery proofs, and transaction records before authorities, prompting regulatory escalation by Mumbai and Delhi drug control departments.
The official forwarding of complaints by two state regulators lends institutional weight to the allegations and underscores the seriousness of the issue.
A Test Case for Online Drug Regulation
With Platinum Rx now under scrutiny by the Drug Controller, Karnataka, the case has become a test of India’s resolve to regulate online sale of medicines. The outcome will determine whether prescription drug laws remain enforceable in the digital age—or whether public health safeguards can be bypassed with a click and a courier.