Ramanagara Fake Drug Network Triggers SIT Raids Across Six States

The investigation into an alleged fake drug network discovered at a farmhouse in Dodderi, Ramanagara district, has widened considerably. Karnataka Special Investigation Team officials and the Drug Control Department have carried out coordinated searches at ten locations spread across six states.

The operation covered locations in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Telangana. Chennai and Mumbai were among the cities where searches were conducted. Around 80 to 100 officials were involved in the coordinated operation, with teams examining offices, storage facilities and other locations suspected to be connected with the network.

Investigators are now trying to establish how the alleged operation was organised and how medicines moved between different states. The simultaneous searches were reportedly planned after investigators gathered information suggesting that different locations were being used for different parts of the supply chain.

One of the findings being examined is the alleged practice of keeping different medicine stocks at separate locations. Investigators suspect that medicines were sourced from different places and stored separately before being moved through the wider distribution network.

The case first came into focus after an alleged fake medicine operation was uncovered at the Dodderi farmhouse. Since then, the SIT has been looking into the people involved, the source of the medicines and the routes through which they were allegedly supplied.

According to the investigation, the suspected network allegedly used counterfeit medicines along with fake bottles and labels. Investigators are also examining the role of several dealers, including Prashanth, who has been described in the investigation as a suspected key figure. The allegations remain subject to the ongoing investigation.

Another part of the probe concerns the alleged business activities of a person identified as Veeresh. Investigators reportedly found that he registered a company called Krupa Healthcare in 2021. The company allegedly obtained medicines through dealers and supplied them to established hospitals at prices lower than prevailing market rates.

The unusually low prices are now an important part of the investigation. According to the information being examined by officials, some hospitals and medical shops were willing to purchase the medicines because they were available at lower prices than those offered by other dealers.

Investigators are also looking into the alleged use of medical representatives to expand the supply network. It has been alleged that representatives were offered higher commissions to encourage medicine supplies to hospitals. More than 15 medical representatives are reportedly being examined in connection with the network.

A warehouse near Minerva Circle has also emerged as an important location in the investigation. Officials are examining information that medicines were allegedly moved from the warehouse to different destinations.

The nature of the medicines involved has increased the seriousness of the case. Investigators are looking into allegations that cancer medicines were among the products supplied through the network. The probe also covers medicines used for thyroid related conditions, vitamin tablets and various injections.

The involvement of cancer medicines is likely to receive particular attention because counterfeit or improperly sourced medicines can raise serious concerns about patient safety. Investigators are therefore expected to examine the authenticity, manufacturing details, storage conditions and distribution records of the medicines recovered or identified during the investigation.

The alleged supply network was not limited to Karnataka. Investigators are examining claims that medicines were also sent to Mumbai, Gujarat and other parts of the country. The latest searches across six states are intended to help officials trace these wider connections and identify the source of the products.

The coordinated action also highlights the complexity of the suspected distribution system. Instead of keeping all medicines at one location, different stocks were allegedly maintained at different places. This could make it harder to immediately identify the complete supply chain and explains why investigators have expanded the operation beyond Karnataka.

Officials are now expected to examine documents, stock records, business transactions and other evidence collected during the searches. The investigation will also focus on identifying how the alleged counterfeit products entered the distribution chain and which dealers or businesses were involved at different stages.

The authorities are also likely to investigate whether hospitals and medical shops that purchased the medicines were aware of their alleged counterfeit nature. The fact that some products were reportedly offered at significantly lower prices is one of the factors being examined by investigators.

The latest raids mark a major expansion of the Ramanagara fake drug investigation. With searches taking place in six states, the SIT is attempting to piece together the full network, identify the source of the medicines and understand how they allegedly reached hospitals and pharmacies.

Further action will depend on the evidence collected during the searches and the findings of the ongoing investigation. Authorities are expected to continue tracing the alleged supply routes and examining the people and businesses connected with the case.