Pramesh S Jain
A major suspected fake medicine racket has been uncovered in Bengaluru,with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the Drugs Control Department conducting a joint raid on Krupa Healthcare near Minerva Circle and recovering a large stock of suspected counterfeit medicines.
The owner of Krupa Healthcare,Veeresh Kumar Jain , 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 .
Racket traced during Ramanagara raid:
The network came to light during a raid on a farmhouse in Bidadi and Dodderi areas of Ramanagara on August 18.
During the operation,authorities seized suspected counterfeit medicines worth approximately Rs.4.91 crore to ₹5 crore,along with fake bills, injection-filling equipment and counterfeit labels.
As investigators suspected that the racket extended beyond Karnataka,further searches were conducted across multiple locations.
Raids across six states:
The SIT, headed by Joint Commissioner of Police C. Vamshikrishna,along with officials from the Drugs Control Department,conducted simultaneous raids at more than 10 locations across six states, including Karnataka,Haryana,Himachal Pradesh,Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
As part of the operation,searches were conducted at the Krupa Healthcare office and warehouse near Minerva Circle.The residence and other premises linked to Veeresh Kumar were also searched.
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.
According to information gathered during the probe, Veeresh Kumar and Prashanth had allegedly been business partners for about a year.Based on these findings, the SIT arrested Veeresh Kumar.
How the alleged racket operated:
Investigators suspect that low-cost rebranded medicines were purchased and sold under different 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.
Sources said the suspected counterfeit medicines included cancer tablets,life-saving medicines and ICU injections.
The medicines were allegedly supplied to hospitals at discounts of around 50 per cent,according to information gathered during the investigation.
A network of more than 15 medical representatives is also suspected to have been involved in distributing the medicines to hospitals and pharmacies.
Investigators have found indications that the network may have extended beyond Karnataka to Maharashtra and Gujarat.
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.
Search on for alleged kingpin:
Prashanth,who is suspected to be a key accused and alleged kingpin of the network,is currently absconding, according to investigators.
Police are continuing efforts to trace and arrest him. His questioning is expected to provide further details about the alleged racket, including its financial transactions, procurement network and distribution channels.
