Bengaluru Pharmacy Owner Arrested Over Suspected Fake Cancer Drug Racket
Police suspect counterfeit and repackaged medicines were supplied at steep discounts to more than 90 hospitals, clinics and medical shops.
Bengaluru Police have arrested a pharmacy owner in connection with a suspected counterfeit medicine racket that allegedly supplied fake and repackaged drugs to hospitals, clinics and medical shops across the city.
The Special Investigation Team and the Drugs Control Department are investigating the suspected network, which is believed to have distributed counterfeit cancer medicines, life saving drugs and ICU injections at discounts of around 50 percent.
The arrested accused has been identified as Veeresh Kumar Jain, who owns Krupa Healthcare near Minerva Circle. Investigators suspect the pharmacy was being used to store and distribute the medicines.
According to police, the alleged operation involved obtaining medicines at low prices, changing their packaging and selling them under different names. Investigators also suspect that expired medicines were repackaged in fresh containers and fitted with counterfeit labels resembling those of established pharmaceutical companies.
The authorities are examining whether the medicines were supplied to more than 90 hospitals and clinics in Bengaluru.
Investigators are also looking into the suspected involvement of more than 15 medical representatives who may have helped transport or distribute the medicines.
The investigation began after authorities seized suspected counterfeit medicines worth around Rs 5 crore during a raid at a farmhouse in the Bidadi and Dodderi areas of Bengaluru South district on August 18.
Officials also recovered what they described as fake bills, equipment used for filling injections and counterfeit medicine labels during the operation.
Following the seizure, the SIT expanded its investigation and carried out coordinated searches at more than 10 locations across Karnataka, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
The investigation subsequently led authorities to Krupa Healthcare and Veeresh Kumar, who police suspect was part of the wider supply network.
Vamsi Krishna, Joint Commissioner of Police for West Bengaluru and head of the SIT, said the investigation was still in progress and that the complete extent of the suspected interstate network had not yet been established.
Investigators have collected bank transaction records, purchase and sales documents and other material as they work to trace both the movement of medicines and the flow of money.
Police suspect Veeresh Kumar had been running the business for about five years.
Investigators have also alleged that he was connected to a man identified as Prashant, whom they describe as a key accused and suspected main operator of the network.
Prashant is currently absconding, and police teams are conducting searches to locate him.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities examining the suspected supply chain and the role of other individuals and businesses linked to the case.