Shillong: A trademark battle is brewing in Shillong. Hindustan Research Health Products accuses Reliabo Pharma India Pvt. Ltd. of stealing its LIVSAV brand identity. The company specifically named Sarvan Jhunjhunwala, a local BJP functionary and director at Reliabo, as the man behind the operation. This dispute casts a long shadow over the drug market in Meghalaya.
Hindustan Research claims it established the brand across the Northeast back in 2001. Their trademark, number 1045892, remains valid until 2031. Managing director Pawan Bakulsaria says his firm faced supply disruptions starting in 2019. He alleges this gave competitors an opening to flood the market with knockoffs. The imitation product, LIVSAV-DS, mimics the original’s green-and-yellow packaging, lettering, and liver illustration. Bakulsaria states, "The company possesses documentary evidence to support its claims of unauthorised use, copyright infringement, passing off and commercial fraud."
Reliabo Pharma lists itself as the marketer on the 200 ml cartons. The manufacturer is Hitam Ayuh Care of Madhya Pradesh, operating under license number MP/25D/19/650. The bottles carry a batch number of HAC-344, a manufacturing date of October 2025, and a price tag of Rs 188. While Reliabo has its own trademark application, number 3267849, for RELIABO LIVSAV-DS SYRUP, the conflict remains heated. Bakulsaria sent a formal request to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on October 12, 2026, seeking a personal meeting to hand over proof of the alleged deception.
Questions now mount regarding regulatory oversight. State drug inspectors must verify if the product is safe. They need to check the manufacturing license and run lab tests on the syrup itself. Packaging labels alone do not guarantee quality. Reporters tried to reach Jhunjhunwala for comment. He did not answer calls or respond to messages.
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