Kissa cough syrup ka: When medicine is cast as contraband

India’s push for ‘Jan Vishwas’ faces a stark contradiction as authorities increasingly use stringent NDPS and BNS laws against licensed pharmaceutical stockists. Despite clear regulations under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, businesses dealing in common cough syrups are being prosecuted, blurring lines between regulation and criminality. This trend risks eroding trust and undermining the rule of law.