1 hr ago
Alleged Counterfeit Drug Racket Kingpin Arrested at Bengaluru Airport
Police arrested a man they say may have led a fake-medicine business.
His name is Prashanth Rajan Babu, and he is 35 years old.
Police detained him at Bengaluru airport after he arrived from Azerbaijan.
They say he had been hiding there and had been wanted in the case.
Earlier, officials found suspected fake and expired medicines worth nearly Rs 5 crore.
The medicines were allegedly made by changing labels and putting cheaper drugs into new bottles.
Investigators say some of the products may have been supplied to hospitals and clinics.
The investigation is still continuing.
Police arrested Prashanth Rajan Babu, 35, at Kempegowda International Airport after his arrival from Azerbaijan.
Babu is accused of leading an interstate counterfeit drug network and had allegedly been absconding.
Authorities seized suspected fake and expired medicines worth nearly Rs 5 crore during an August 18 raid near Bidadi.
The alleged operation involved relabelling cheaper bulk drugs as premium imported multinational brands.
A six-member Special Investigation Team is examining supplies allegedly made to hospitals and clinics.
- Who
- Police arrested Prashanth Rajan Babu, 35, who is accused of being the alleged kingpin.
- What
- He was arrested in connection with an interstate counterfeit and expired drug racket.
- Where
- Babu was detained at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru after arriving from Azerbaijan.
- When
- He was detained on Monday morning; the medicine seizure occurred on August 18.
- Why
- He is being questioned over alleged fake-medicine manufacturing and distribution, including the supply of relabelled drugs.
Key facts
- Accused
- Prashanth Rajan Babu, 35
- Arrest location
- Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru
- Arrival origin
- Azerbaijan
- Seized medicines
- Suspected fake and expired medicines worth nearly Rs 5 crore
- Raid date
- August 18
- Investigation team
- A six-member Special Investigation Team
- Alleged method
- Cheaper bulk drugs were allegedly refilled into new vials and relabelled as premium imported brands
Quotes
A senior police officer
Police officer who described the accused’s detention and arrest
“The accused was detained at Kempegowda International Airport here early this morning and taken into custody upon his arrival from Azerbaijan.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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