Pharmacy owner sent to SIT custody in spurious drug racket case

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According to the investigation, the accused supplied fake medicines to major hospitals in Bengaluru, offering them at heavily discounted prices | Photo Credit: Photo for representation only

Four days after his arrest and the seizure of a cache of suspected spurious drugs and incriminating documents, a Bengaluru-based pharmacy owner was on Wednesday remanded in custody of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the drug racket.

Veeresh Kumar Jain was produced before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court on September 16. The SIT sought his custody to ascertain his alleged role in the racket, and to gather details about its operations and logistics. The court subsequently granted custody of Jain to the SIT.

Jain, a native of Rajasthan and proprietor of Krupa Healthcare near Minerva Circle in Bengaluru, was arrested by the SIT during multi-State raids conducted on September 12. He is suspected to be a close associate of R. Prashanth, prime accused, who is absconding.

According to the investigation, Jain and Prashanth had allegedly been operating the spurious drug racket for nearly five years. The duo allegedly supplied fake medicines to major hospitals, offering them at heavily discounted prices.

Investigators are probing their alleged operations in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Mumbai as part of the multi-State investigation.

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