- A fake medicine racket supplied counterfeit cancer drugs to Bengaluru hospitals.
- Pharmacy owner Veeresh Kumar Jain arrested in Bengaluru scam.
- Investigation ongoing into widespread racket, alleged kingpin absconding.
In a major update, investigators uncovered a fake medicine racket involving counterfeit cancer medicines, among other critical drugs. Now the authorities are investigating whether these medications were supplied to over 90 hospitals across the city.
The revelation comes following a joint operation of the Bengaluru Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the Drugs Control Department. The teams have arrested pharmacy owner Veeresh Kumar Jain, who is allegedly involved in the medicine scam. The matter came to light after the food safety officials raided Krupa Healthcare near Minerva Circle and recovered a large quantity of suspected counterfeit medicines. According to the investigators, the racket supplied fake cancer medicines, life-saving drugs and ICU medicines to hospitals and clinics in the city.
Counterfeit Medicines Sold At Higher Prices
The investigating team alleged that the racket involved procuring medicines at lower prices, rebranding them with different names and selling them at higher prices. The people involved allegedly sold expired medicines in new containers, using different labels. Many used the labels of renowned establishments.
The officials claimed that Krupa Healthcare was allegedly used as a storage unit, from which the fake and counterfeit medicines had been supplied to multiple hospitals and clinics in the city.
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15 MRs suspended
Over 15 medical representatives have been suspended for allegedly facilitating the transportation or distribution of the medicines. The officials are now investigating whether the racket was spread in other states or not.
Cops are scanning bank transactions, purchase and sale records and other documents seized during the investigation to trace the movement of the medicines as well as the flow of money.
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The police suspect that Veeresh has been linked to the operation for nearly five years. They also suspect him of being linked to the alleged kingpin of the racket, Prashant. Prashant is currently absconding, and police teams are searching for him. Veeresh Kumar is currently the only person arrested in the case.