Counterfeit Drug Racket: Alleged Kingpin Arrested in Bengaluru
Prashanth Rajan Babu was detained at Kempegowda International Airport after arriving from Azerbaijan, police said
GG News Bureau
Bengaluru, 28th Sept: A key accused allegedly involved in an interstate counterfeit drug racket was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport here on Monday morning, police said.
The accused, identified as Prashanth Rajan Babu, 35, is alleged by investigators to be the kingpin of the racket. Police said he had been absconding since the case came to light and was allegedly hiding in Azerbaijan.
A senior police officer said Babu was detained at the airport early Monday after arriving from Azerbaijan and was subsequently taken into custody.
“He was detained at Kempegowda International Airport here early this morning and taken into custody upon his arrival from Azerbaijan,” the officer said.
Police are questioning Babu regarding his alleged involvement in the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit medicines.
Lookout notice issued
A lookout notice had earlier been issued against Babu in connection with the case.
The investigation began after officials from the Karnataka Health & Family Welfare Department and the Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration raided a farmhouse near the Bidadi Toll Gate on August 18.
During the raid, suspected fake and expired medicines worth nearly Rs 5 crore were seized, according to officials.
Health Minister U T Khader had earlier said that the alleged network procured cheap bulk drugs from manufacturing hubs in Telangana and Himachal Pradesh. The medicines were allegedly refilled into new vials at the Bidadi facility and relabelled as premium imported brands of multinational pharmaceutical companies.
Officials had also alleged that counterfeit versions of medicines associated with a major pharmaceutical brand were being supplied for patients, including those in intensive care units.
Six-member SIT probing network
Following the seizure, a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted to investigate the alleged network and its supply links with hospitals and clinics.
During the investigation, officials also arrested the owner of a healthcare firm in Bengaluru in connection with the case.
Police are now questioning Babu to establish the alleged extent of the network, its supply chain and links with other accused persons.
Further investigation is underway.
