SIT to probe inter-State network behind spurious drug racket: Khader

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Health Minister U.T. Khader during a press meet in Bengaluru on Wednesday (August 19). | Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN

Health Minister U.T. Khader has proposed constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the suspected inter-State network involved in sourcing, repackaging and distributing spurious medicines under the names of major pharmaceutical companies.

Mr. Khader said he had already spoken to Home Minister Priyank Kharge on the matter and would also discuss it with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. The proposed SIT will comprise two police officials and two officials from the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA), he said.

“The inspection and seizure of medicines worth ₹4.91 crore from the unlicenced repacking facility at a farmhouse near Bidadi has indicated that medicines were being sourced from Himachal Pradesh, Telangana and other States, where fake drug manufacturing units are suspected to be operating. The drugs were being procured from these different States at cheaper prices, brought here and relabelled with brand names before being distributed to hospitals and pharmacies,” Mr. Khader said.

He said the medicines were allegedly being sold to hospitals at prices nearly 50% lower than prevailing market rates. More seriously, some of the seized medicines were reportedly intended for use in intensive care units, raising concerns over whether patients may have received them.

The SIT will be tasked with tracing the entire supply chain and financial trail. This will include identifying the alleged manufacturers, middlemen and agents involved in procuring and transporting the medicines to Karnataka, besides establishing how the stock was distributed, he said.

Investigators will also examine the role of pharmacies and other establishments through which the medicines were supplied and the owners of such establishments and the hospitals that received the products.

A key part of the investigation will be to establish whether any of the medicines were administered to patients, particularly those in intensive care units, and, if so, how many patients may have been exposed to them.

The Minister said the inter-State nature of the suspected racket would require coordination with drug-control authorities in the States from where the medicines were allegedly procured. Officials are also examining whether the network had extended to other parts of Karnataka.

The farmhouse, located at Kurubarakeranahalli near Bidadi, belonged to an individual identified as Siddaiah and had been leased to Prashanth, a Dubai-based man who is alleged to be the principal operator of the racket, according to the information available to the investigating agencies.

His relative, Tejas, allegedly managed the operation locally. Prabhudeva has been arrested in connection with the case. An FIR has been registered at the Tavarekere police station.

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