When counterfeit fashion or electronics enter the market, consumers suffer financially. But when fake medical devices infiltrate hospitals and surgical rooms, lives are at risk.
That’s exactly what happened in the case of Johnson & Johnson vs. Medserve, where counterfeit surgical products bearing the trusted name of ‘SURGICEL’ and ‘ETHICON’ made their way into medical procedures.
What started as a routine surgery in the U.S. turned into a global hunt for a criminal counterfeiting operation spanning multiple countries—all leading back to a small medical supplier in New Delhi.
A Dangerous Discovery in the Operating Room
In 2019, a neurosurgeon at the University of Kentucky Medical Center noticed something off about a ‘SURGICEL’ surgical product during a critical brain surgery. What was supposed to be a sterile, absorbable hemostat felt unusual in texture.
Upon closer examination, the hospital realized that the product was counterfeit. The concern escalated when lab tests confirmed bacterial contamination and improper oxidation levels, making it unsafe for surgical use.
Johnson & Johnson immediately launched an international investigation. What they uncovered was a criminal web of counterfeit medical devices spanning the United States, UAE, and India.
Tracking the Counterfeit Trail: From the U.S. to India
The counterfeit SURGICEL product had been purchased from XS Supply, a U.S.-based supplier, which had sourced it from Lion Heart Surgical Supply, Florida. Lion Heart, in turn, had acquired these fakes from Pure Care Traders in the UAE.
When Johnson & Johnson raided Lion Heart’s offices, they found forged purchase orders and fake invoices. But the real shock came when employees at Lion Heart named their main supplier—M/s Medserve, a company based in New Delhi, India.
Investigations revealed that Medserve’s owner, Pritamdas Arora, had been manufacturing and exporting thousands of counterfeit medical devices under the brand names ‘SURGICEL’, ‘ETHICON’, and ‘LIGACLIP’.
Further raids on Medserve’s premises in Delhi revealed:
Despite clear evidence, the accused refused to appear in court, leading the Delhi High Court to issue non-bailable warrants against them.
The Verdict: Heavy Damages and a Message to Counterfeiters
The Delhi High Court, after multiple failed court appearances by the defendants, proceeded ex-parte and ruled decisively in favor of Johnson & Johnson.
The court not only issued a permanent injunction against Medserve but also imposed:
The court strongly condemned the defendants’ actions, stating that counterfeiting medical devices isn’t just a trade mark issue—it’s a threat to human lives.
Access judgement here: https://dhccaseinfo.nic.in/jsearch/judgement.php?path=dhc/ABL/judgement/11-03-2025/&name=ABL11032025SC5702019_161716.pdf
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