Karnataka: SIT grills fake pharmaceuticals racket kingpin, uncovers wider distribution network

The Karnataka Special Investigation Team (SIT), while questioning key accused Veeresh Kumar Jain in an alleged fake pharmaceuticals racket, has uncovered a wider network that reportedly supplied counterfeit tablets, syrups and other medicines to medical shops and private hospitals across the state.

Jain, who was taken into custody on Sunday following raids at properties linked to him, allegedly directed Prashant and others and managed the operations of the racket, according to investigators.

The SIT suspects that counterfeit medicines supplied by the accused were distributed to more than 80 medical shops and private hospitals. Several medical shops and hospitals in Bengaluru were also allegedly among the recipients, raising concerns over the potential risk to patients who may have consumed the spurious drugs.

Investigators are questioning Jain to establish his role and identify others involved in the alleged manufacture, repackaging, supply and distribution of counterfeit medicines. The racket is estimated to have had an annual turnover of morethan Rs 15 crore.

The SIT is also examining the financial transactions linked to the illegal trade and is attempting to identify additional suspects based on information provided by Jain during questioning.

The probe is expected to focus on the source of the counterfeit medicines, their manufacturing and repackaging facilities, the supply chain and the medical shops and hospitals that allegedly received the products.

The SIT had recently unearthed the alleged fake pharmaceuticals racket in Dodderi on the outskirts of Bengaluru in Ramanagara district. As part of the investigation, the SIT and the Drugs Control Department conducted searches at 10 locations across Karnataka, Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana on Friday.

Around 80 to 100 officials and staff members were involved in the searches, which targeted offices, properties and other premises linked to companies allegedly involved in manufacturing, repackaging and supplying counterfeit medicines.

In Bengaluru, officials searched the premises of a pharmaceutical company at Minerva Circle near Lalbagh. Investigators are examining medicines allegedly sourced from different locations and subsequently repackaged or supplied through the network.

The investigation has also reportedly revealed an international connection, with counterfeit labels allegedly being sourced from foreign locations.

The latest raids were conducted as part of the ongoing probe into the racket, which came to light around two weeks ago. Investigators are now working to establish the full extent of the alleged network and trace the movement of counterfeit medicines from their source to end users.