Hyderabad, Feb. 21 -- The Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) on Saturday issued show-cause notices to 166 medical shops across the state for allegedly selling habit-forming drugs in violation of rules.

The action followed a special drive carried out on February 21, during which officials raided several retail pharmacies to check the illegal sale of medicines falling under Schedule H1 and Schedule X of the Drugs Rules.

According to the DCA, the inspections focused on drugs prone to abuse, including codeine-based cough syrups, Nitrazepam, Alprazolam, Tramadol, Zolpidem and Tapentadol tablets.

Officials said multiple violations were detected. These included sale of prescription medicines without valid prescriptions from register...