Fake Medicines Racket: Karnataka SIT Arrests Key Accused in Chennai, Total Arrests Reach Seven

The latest accused, identified as Balasubramanian, was arrested in Chennai following information obtained during the interrogation of alleged kingpin Prashanth Ranjan Babu, according to investigators.

Balasubramanian, a Chennai-based pharma partner, was reportedly a business partner of Ranjan in DM Pharma. Investigators allege that he played a significant role in the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit medicines.

After his arrest, Balasubramanian was produced before a court and remanded to SIT custody for seven days. Investigators are questioning him to establish the structure of the alleged network and identify others involved in the manufacture and distribution of spurious drugs.

The arrest follows the detention of Ranjan at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Monday after he returned to India from Azerbaijan.

Police said Ranjan had allegedly travelled to Azerbaijan after the fake medicines network came to light and was subsequently traced there by investigators. Following efforts by the SIT, he returned to India and was taken into custody upon his arrival at the airport.

Investigators are now examining the extent of the alleged network, including the locations where counterfeit medicines were manufactured and distributed and the period for which the operation was active.

The case came to light after authorities uncovered a major alleged fake medicine racket centred around Bengaluru involving counterfeit, expired and relabelled life-saving, intensive care and cancer medicines valued at more than Rs 5 crore.

The investigation initially led to the arrest of Bengaluru pharmacy owner Veeresh Kumar Jain of Krupa Healthcare. Investigators subsequently found that the alleged network had supplied compromised medicines to more than 90 hospitals and clinics.

SIT raids later expanded to multiple locations across Karnataka, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

The Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration has cancelled 16 drug licences and suspended eight others belonging to retailers, wholesalers and distributors allegedly linked to the racket.

One of the suspended licences was associated with the Pfizer C&F depot. Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Khader said the agency had not cooperated with investigators or provided reference standards required for laboratory testing of the chemical components of the seized medicines.

With counterfeit cancer and critical-care medicines reportedly reaching patients, the Health Department is also working to identify people who may have received the drugs so their health can be assessed.

Authorities have urged the public to carefully check medicine labels and packaging and report suspicious products, including medicines carrying QR codes that fail to scan, to drug enforcement officials.

The investigation into the alleged racket is continuing as the SIT seeks to establish the full supply chain and identify all those involved.