Bengaluru fake drug racket: SIT probes hospitals that purchased medicines from accused, examines compliance

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the fake medicine racket has now turned its focus towards hospitals that purchased medicines from the accused and is examining the possible repercussions of the sale and use of the drugs.

Sources said the medicines allegedly supplied through the racket were sold to several hospitals in Bengaluru. The hospitals have been issued notices seeking details and explanations regarding their purchases.

The SIT is examining whether the hospitals were aware of the nature and source of the medicines and whether any rules or mandatory procedures were violated while procuring the drugs. Investigators are also looking into the circumstances under which the hospitals purchased the medicines at comparatively lower prices.

The Drugs Control Department has also sought the assistance of the Central government to examine measures to regulate and cap the prices of the medicines, sources said.

Tracing the distribution network

Meanwhile, the SIT is expanding its probe into the distribution network, which is suspected to have spread beyond Karnataka to other states. Investigators are tracing the supply chain to identify other dealers, distributors and purchasers linked to the racket. The pharmaceutical companies have also been summoned for questioning to ascertain their possible role .

The SIT is also not ruling out the possibility of accused Prashanth having an international network. Investigators are examining his overseas connections and financial and business links to ascertain whether the racket had any international dimension.

The SIT is also looking into the statements of six accused persons arrested earlier in the case. According to investigators, the accused have allegedly pointed to Prashanth as the person who supervised key aspects of the operation, including the procurement and distribution of medicines and the relabelling of medicines.

Investigators are questioning Prashanth based on these statements as well as other evidence gathered during the probe. They are seeking to establish how the alleged network operated, how tasks were assigned and who was responsible for sourcing, repackaging, labelling and distributing the medicines.