CBI Busts Bribery Nexus in ₹5,000-Crore Fake Drug Scam
Crime Branch Inspector, Associate Held for Allegedly Seeking ₹3 Crore to Influence Probe
- Delhi Police inspector and associate arrested by CBI in bribery case.
- ₹3 crore allegedly demanded from key accused in fake medicine racket.
- ₹1 crore reportedly routed through hawala channels.
- Probe expands to identify officials linked to alleged influence network.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 10th June: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has unearthed an alleged bribery network during its investigation into the ₹5,000-crore fake medicine racket in Puducherry, leading to the arrest of a Delhi Police Crime Branch inspector and his associate.
According to the CBI, Inspector Pradeep Kumar Singh and Rajkumar allegedly demanded ₹3 crore from the main accused in the spurious drug case, N. Raja alias Valliappan, promising to secure favourable outcomes in the ongoing investigation.
The agency alleged that ₹1.5 crore was sought as an advance payment. During the probe, investigators found that Raja had allegedly transferred ₹1 crore to Singh through hawala channels and was arranging the remaining amount.
CBI officials claimed Singh subsequently handed over ₹50 lakh to another individual identified as Prabhat as part of the alleged transaction.
During raids conducted by the agency, Singh and Rajkumar were arrested, and ₹24.70 lakh in cash was recovered.
The FIR states that Raja was allegedly assured that relief could be secured in the cases through influence over investigating agencies and senior government officials.
Investigators also referred to a meeting held at Aerocity in New Delhi on May 14, where Raja, Rajkumar, a senior government official and others allegedly discussed securing favourable intervention in the case.
On June 9, the CBI produced the two accused before the Rouse Avenue Court and sought seven days of custody to identify other officials allegedly involved, trace the bribe money trail and analyse digital evidence.
The court, however, granted one day of police custody.
During the hearing, counsel for Inspector Singh denied the allegations and argued that his client had been falsely implicated and had not demanded any bribe.
The Puducherry fake medicine racket is considered one of the country’s largest pharmaceutical fraud cases, with agencies alleging large-scale manufacture and distribution of counterfeit medicines through an organised network.
The CBI said the investigation is continuing to identify additional individuals involved in the alleged conspiracy and to determine the full extent of attempts made to influence the probe.
