1 week ago
Karnataka Forms SIT Over Alleged Inter-State Fake Drug Racket
Karnataka created a special police team to investigate suspected fake medicines.
The team is looking into medicines seized near Bidadi.
Officials say cheaper medicines were put into new vials and given labels resembling expensive brands.
They also found 30 boxes of expired medicines.
Authorities seized medicines worth about Rs 4.91 crore.
Four people have reportedly been held in the case.
Investigators are checking whether the medicines came from Himachal Pradesh and Telangana.
They are also trying to find out whether pharmacies or hospitals received the suspected drugs.
Karnataka formed a six-member Special Investigation Team to investigate an alleged inter-state spurious drug racket.
Joint Commissioner of Police (West) C Vamshikrishna was appointed to lead the SIT under the ADGP, Law and Order.
Authorities seized allegedly relabelled medicines worth Rs 4.91 crore from an unlicensed unit near Bidadi.
Four people have reportedly been held, while investigators examine possible links to Himachal Pradesh and Telangana.
Officials found expired medicines and alleged replicas of critical-care drugs that may have been distributed to pharmacies or hospitals.
- Who
- The Karnataka Government and a six-member SIT led by Joint Commissioner of Police (West) C Vamshikrishna are investigating; four people have reportedly been held.
- What
- Authorities are probing an alleged inter-state racket involving spurious, relabelled and expired medicines.
- Where
- An unlicensed repacking and relabelling unit at a farmhouse near Bidadi in Bengaluru South district; alleged manufacturing links were traced to Himachal Pradesh and Telangana.
- When
- The SIT was formed on Thursday, reported as August 20; the raid was described as occurring on Tuesday evening in one report and the day before the SIT announcement in another.
- Why
- The government formed the SIT after medicines worth Rs 4.91 crore were seized and officials raised concerns about relabelling, expired drugs and a wider supply network.
Key facts
- SIT composition
- Six members
- SIT head
- Joint Commissioner of Police (West) C Vamshikrishna
- Supervision
- Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order
- Seized medicines
- Allegedly spurious and relabelled medicines worth Rs 4.91 crore
- Expired stock
- 30 boxes of expired medicines
- People held
- Four people, according to one report
- Suspected supply links
- Himachal Pradesh and Telangana; investigators are examining possible pharmacy and hospital recipients
- Medicines named
- Emblaveo, Zavicefta, Ceftivent, Xavitaz and Hizlam were cited as alleged replicas of high-end antibiotics or critical-care drugs
Quotes
UT Khader
Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister
“This appears to be a national level (operation). We will share the details with the Centre, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana states as well. We need a Special Investigation Team to probe into this since it is an inter-state racket.”
wionews.com
Sources
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