The Anti-Gang Squad of the Crime Branch of Delhi Police has busted a major interstate racket involved in the manufacturing, selling, and supplying of counterfeit lifesaving medicines. Six people have been arrested, including the kingpin Rajesh Mishra.
Police said that the racket has a pan-India network across several states, including Moradabad, Deoria, Gorakhpur in UP, Panipat and Jind in Haryana, Baddi and Solan in Himachal Pradesh. Two factories involved in the manufacturing and packaging of these fake medicines were busted at Jind, Haryana and Baddi, HP.
Counterfeit/fake drugs of reputed companies were recovered in huge quantities, police said. The fake medicines were being sold under the names of reputed pharmaceutical companies such as Johnson & Johnson, GSK, and Alkem. The accused communicated through encrypted apps and managed money transactions via fictitious accounts and hawala channels.
The breakthrough came when Head Constable Jitendra received a tip-off from an informer about a large consignment of fake medicines arriving in Delhi. Baesd on this input, a trap was laid at the HP CNG Petrol Pump, Shyamnath Marg, Civil Lines, Delhi on 30 July. A car was intercepted, and two persons identified as Mohd. Alam and Mohd. Saleem from Moradabad, UP, were found to be transporting counterfeit medicines.
A large quantity of fake Ultracet and Augmentin tablets was recovered from the vehicle. Representatives of Johnson & Johnson and GSK, who were present at the spot, confirmed that the packaging and stamping were not in accordance with company standards. Lab tests further confirmed the drugs to be counterfeit.
This led to the unearthing of the entire counterfeit medicine racket, which expanded through subsequent raids and custodial interrogations across Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The racket had ordered packaging boxes, foil and blister packing materials from various sources, and manufactured the counterfeit drugs in factories located in Jind and Baddi. These were then distributed by road and rail across various regions.
Prem Shankar Prajapati from Deoria handled the movement of drugs from the manufacturing units to the distributors, while Rajesh Mishra from Gorakhpur was identified as the mastermind behind the entire operation, overseeing the production and network management.
Six accused have been arrested, including Mohd. Alam (35), Mohd. Saleem (42), Prem Shankar Prajapati (25), and Parmanand (50). Investigations are ongoing to trace the full network, including the source of raw materials, financial transactions, and other co-accused.
