Bengaluru fake-medicine probe turns to hospitals and wider supply chain

The Special Investigation Team investigating an alleged fake-medicine racket in Bengaluru has turned its attention to hospitals that purchased medicines supplied through the suspected network, The Hindu reported. Investigators have issued notices to several hospitals seeking details of their purchases and explanations about how the medicines were acquired. The team is examining whether the hospitals knew the alleged nature and source of the products and whether procurement rules were breached.

The investigation is also focused on why the medicines were bought at comparatively low prices. The Drugs Control Department has sought assistance from the central government on measures to regulate and cap medicine prices, according to sources cited in the report. The SIT is expanding its examination of the distribution chain, which investigators suspect may extend beyond Karnataka.

Officers are tracing dealers, distributors and purchasers linked to the alleged racket. Pharmaceutical companies have been summoned for questioning to establish whether they had any role. Investigators are also examining whether accused person Prashanth had international connections, including overseas financial and business links.

The team is reviewing statements from six people arrested earlier. Investigators allege that those suspects identified Prashanth as the person who supervised important parts of the operation, including procuring and distributing medicines and relabelling them. Prashanth is being questioned on the basis of those statements and other evidence, the report said.

Investigators are trying to determine how the alleged network functioned, how responsibilities were allocated and who sourced, repackaged, labelled and distributed the medicines. The supplied material does not state whether any hospital has been accused of wrongdoing or whether patients were harmed. The investigation remains ongoing.