A Bengaluru Police Special Investigation Team and the Drugs Control Department have uncovered a suspected counterfeit medicine racket that investigators believe supplied fake or repackaged drugs to more than 90 hospitals and clinics across the city. The pharmacy owner, Veeresh Kumar Jain, has been arrested in connection with the case.
Storage and Distribution Network
Police suspect his pharmacy, Krupa Healthcare near Minerva Circle, was being used to store and distribute the alleged counterfeit medicines. The network allegedly supplied counterfeit cancer medicines, other life-saving drugs, and ICU injections to hospitals, clinics, and medical shops at discounts of around 50 percent.
According to investigators, the racket involved procuring medicines at low prices, rebranding them, and selling them under different names. Expired medicines were also allegedly repackaged in new containers and fitted with counterfeit labels, including labels resembling those of established pharmaceutical companies. The Krupa Healthcare premises is suspected to have served as a storage point before the medicines were distributed further.
Investigators are also examining the suspected involvement of more than 15 medical representatives in transporting or facilitating the distribution of the medicines.
The Raid and Initial Seizure
The investigation began after authorities seized suspected counterfeit medicines worth around Rs 5 crore during a raid at a farmhouse in the Bidadi and Dodderi areas of Bengaluru South district. Fake bills, injection-filling equipment, and counterfeit labels were also recovered during the August 18 raid.
Expanded Investigation Across States
Following the seizure, the SIT widened its probe and conducted coordinated searches at more than 10 locations across Karnataka, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. Investigators subsequently traced part of the suspected supply chain to Krupa Healthcare and Veeresh Kumar.
Vamsi Krishna, Joint Commissioner of Police West and head of the SIT, said the investigation was still underway and the full extent of the suspected interstate network had not yet been established.
“We have seized bank transaction records, purchase and sale vouchers, and other documents. These are being collated to establish the flow of medicines as well as money,” he told an Indian newspaper.
Suspect Details and Kingpin
Police suspect Veeresh Kumar had been operating the firm for around five years. Investigators have also alleged that he was linked to a man named Prashant, whom they have described as the key accused and suspected kingpin of the network. Prashant is currently absconding, and police teams are attempting to trace his whereabouts.