Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Crime Branch, working with the Food and Drugs Department, has busted a suspected counterfeit medicine network and seized around 1,200 strips of fake blood pressure medication being sold in the city.
Three people, including the owner of a medical store, have been arrested in connection with the case.
The counterfeit medicine was identified as NICARDIA RETARD 10 TABLET, carrying batch number ACG25007 and the name of JB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Limited, Bharuch.
Fake medicine may have reached patients
Investigators believe around 1,500 strips of the counterfeit medicine were sold to patients in Ahmedabad over the past four months.
As each strip contained 10 tablets, approximately 15,000 fake tablets may have reached consumers.
The investigation began after authorities received a complaint about the sale of suspected counterfeit NICARDIA RETARD 10 TABLET at a pharmacy in Ahmedabad’s Satellite area.
Officials subsequently traced the suspected stock to several medical stores. Around 11 pharmacies in Ahmedabad were reportedly supplied through Parshva Medical Store.
Three people arrested
Police arrested Darshil Sanghvi, associated with Parshva Medical Store, along with Devendra Yadav and Umang Rastogi, both residents of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh.
Investigators allege that Yadav and Rastogi supplied the counterfeit medicines to Gujarat, while Sanghvi purchased and distributed them despite allegedly knowing that they were fake.
Police said Sanghvi was attracted by an 18% commission on the transactions.
Suspected network spreads across states
According to investigators, the counterfeit stock was transported from Uttarakhand to Lucknow before being distributed to different locations.
Of around 3,600 strips, approximately 2,700 were sent to Ahmedabad and another 900 to Mysuru. Police have recovered around 1,200 of the strips sent to Ahmedabad, while the remaining 1,500 were reportedly sold.
The medicine was also allegedly supplied in Surat, Bhavnagar, Nadiad and Bhuj.
Investigation continues
The Ahmedabad Metro Court granted the Crime Branch seven days’ remand of the three accused after police sought 10 days.
Investigators are now trying to identify those allegedly manufacturing the counterfeit medicine and locate the facilities where its packaging and sealing were carried out.
Four Crime Branch teams have been deployed across different states to trace the wider network. Police said some suspects remain absconding, while a similar complaint has also been registered against two people in Maharashtra.
The investigation is continuing to establish the source of the counterfeit medicine and the full extent of its distribution.