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MUMBAI: ’Miracle doc-turned-scientist’ Munir Khan was arrested by the Versova police on Tuesday nearly two weeks after the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) registered an FIR against him. Khan has been selling a tonic called ’Body Revival’ as a cure for serious diseases at a high price of Rs 15750 per bottle. Officials initially found that the tonic wasn’t of standard quality but subsequent tests revealed that it was, in fact, spurious.

 Between 2008 and 2014, the FDA registered three separate FIRs against Khan. "Earlier, Khan had procured a licence from the Rajasthan government for his product. After our cases against him, the Rajasthan government cancelled his licence. At present, he has a licence from the Himachal Pradesh government and also runs a factory there," said FDA commissioner Harshadeep Kamble.

The FDA sent two decoys__ pretending they had a heart ailment__ to Khan’s Andheri-based clinic on March 18. "The clinic was guarded by five to six personnel. Two of the guards escorted the ’patients’ inside. Khan heard them out and instructed them to buy ’Body Revival’ from a counter outside. Our team then moved in and a search of the premises was conducted, in the presence of Khan and his son. 2100 bottles of ’Body Revival’ worth Rs 3.3 crore were found. They were sealed and orders prohibiting their sale were issued. An FIR was registered the same day under the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act and Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Act.

 Interestingly, Khan has not shifted out of his place of operation__ his clinic at Andheri West__ despite it being raided previously.

 Inquiries revealed that Khan had continued to advertise his product on TV channels and newspapers, claiming it could cure heart ailments, tumors, diabetes, epilepsy stress, hypertension and premature ageing. "Elaborate tests were conducted on the product in two private labs. It was found that of the ingredients mentioned on the bottle, one (Acorous Calamous) was missing. This classified ’Body Revival’ as a spurious drug under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act," said an official. Non-bailable charges were slapped against Khan, under the IPC, on Friday.

 "Nearly 30 to 50 patients visited Khan’s clinic everyday. While earlier his business card said he was a doctor, it has been modified and he now calls himself a scientist. Khan told us that the previous FDA raids wisened him," said an FDA official.

 Kamble added that notices have been issued to 30 to 35 other products advertised on TV channels and in newspapers as miracle drugs.