Fake drug racket kingpin arrested at Bengaluru airport after hiding in Azerbaijan

A key accused in an interstate counterfeit drug racket was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Monday morning, police said.

Prashanth Rajan Babu, 35, who is alleged to be the kingpin in the case, had been absconding since the racket came to light and was allegedly hiding in Azerbaijan.

Police said he was detained on arrival and taken into custody. He is now being questioned over an alleged fake medicine manufacturing and distribution network linked to the case.

"The accused was detained at Kempegowda International Airport here early this morning and taken into custody upon his arrival from Azerbaijan," a senior police officer said. A lookout notice had been issued against him in connection with the case.

Officials said that on August 18, the state Health and Family Welfare Department and the Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration raided a farmhouse near the Bidadi Toll Gate and seized suspected fake and expired medicines worth nearly Rs 5 crore.

Earlier, Health Minister UT Khader had said the network procured cheap bulk drugs from manufacturing hubs in Telangana and Himachal Pradesh, refilled them into new vials at the Bidadi facility, and relabelled them as premium imported brands of multinational companies, including a top brand. He had said the counterfeit drugs were meant for patients and ICU wards.

Following the raid, a six-member Special Investigation Team was formed to investigate the network's supply to hospitals and clinics. During the probe, the SIT also arrested the owner of a healthcare firm in Bengaluru in connection with the case.

Further investigation is underway.- Ends