Investigators suspect that low-cost rebranded medicines were purchased and sold under different brand names. Expired medicines were allegedly collected, transferred into new containers and repackaged using counterfeit labels and packaging material.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of police and drug inspectors, formed to probe the fake medicine racket busted near Bidadi recently, raided a private facility, Krupa Healthcare near Minerva Circle, on Saturday and recovered a large stock of suspected counterfeit medicines.
This raid was part of simultaneous raids at 10 locations in six states including Karnataka, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
The owner of Krupa Healthcare, Veeresh Kumar Jain, said to be a former business partner of the absconding alleged kingpin of the racket Prashanth, has been arrested in connection with the case.
Investigators suspect that counterfeit cancer medicines, life-saving drugs and injections used in intensive care units (ICUs) were being supplied to hospitals, clinics and medical stores.According to investigators, the medicines may have been supplied to more than 90 hospitals and clinics in Bengaluru. The team is examining seized batch numbers and records to identify all establishments that received the suspected counterfeit medicines. We have seized documents pertaining to procurement and distribution which is being verified, a senior officer supervising the operation, said.
The network came to light during a raid on a farmhouse in Bidadi on August 18. During the operation, authorities seized suspected counterfeit medicines worth approximately ₹4.91 crore, along with fake bills, injection-filling equipment and counterfeit labels.
The officials found that Veeresh Kumar Jain, operating his firm for the last five years, had close links with Prashanth, described by investigators as a key accused in the suspected counterfeit drug network.
How it operated?
Investigators suspect that low-cost rebranded medicines were purchased and sold under different brand names. Expired medicines were allegedly collected, transferred into new containers and repackaged using counterfeit labels and packaging material. Even medicines associated with reputed pharmaceutical companies were allegedly given fake labels before being distributed.
The suspected counterfeit medicines were reportedly stored at the Minerva Circle warehouse before being supplied to hospitals, clinics and medical shops across Bengaluru and surrounding areas.
The medicines were allegedly supplied to hospitals at discounts of around 50%.
A network of more than 15 medical representatives is also suspected to have been involved in distributing the medicines to hospitals and pharmacies.
The seized medicines have been sent to laboratories to determine their chemical composition, authenticity and quality. Batch numbers of medicines suspected to be counterfeit have reportedly been blocked on the Karnataka FDA portal as a precautionary measure.
Authorities are now tracing the distribution chain to identify hospitals, clinics and medical stores that may have received the suspected fake medicines.
Manhunt
Meanwhile, the hunt is on for the alleged kingpin Prashanth, who is currently on the run. His questioning is expected to provide further details about the alleged racket, including its financial transactions, procurement network and distribution channels.
