UP Drug Dept Probes Rs 72 Cr Fake Medicine Racket, Team Sent to Puducherry to Trace Supply Chain
Agra: With the investigation into a large-scale fake medicine racket entering a crucial phase, the Agra unit of the Uttar Pradesh Drug Department has decided to send a special team to Puducherry to verify the supply trail of medicines allegedly linked to a syndicate whose stock worth nearly Rs 72 crore has already been sealed during enforcement action.
The move follows the arrest of the alleged syndicate head A.K. Rana, who was brought to Agra on transit remand from Puducherry and subsequently sent to district jail. Officials said the team will visit Puducherry to examine purchase and sale records, verify supplier credentials, and question Rana in connection with the medicines sourced from firms based in the Union Territory.
The investigation stems from raids conducted in August at He Man Medico, Bansal Medical Agency and their associated firms located in Fawwara Dawa Market, Agra. During the operation, drug inspectors seized large quantities of medicines and collected 28 samples, most of which were procured through bills linked to Puducherry-based firms such as Meenakshi Pharma, Shri Aman Pharma and Parm House.
Officials stated that a warehouse containing medicines worth around ₹72 crore was sealed earlier and will now be opened in the presence of firm representatives to scrutinise transaction documents and stock records. Although 27 of the 28 samples cleared quality testing, authorities are continuing the probe to determine whether forged bills, fake branding or unauthorised distribution networks were involved.
Assistant Drug Commissioner Atul Upadhyay stated that the Puducherry visit is aimed at verifying the authenticity of suppliers, tracking the movement of medicines, and identifying any violations of drug procurement and distribution norms. Further action will depend on findings from the records and statements collected during the visit.
According to a recent media report in Jagran, leading pharmaceutical companies including Sanofi, Sun Pharma, USV and MSD have identified certain medicines involved in the case as fake and have been advised to initiate appropriate legal proceedings.
