A major development has been reported in the investigation into an alleged counterfeit medicine network uncovered in the Bengaluru South and Ramanagara areas. Prashant Ranjan Babu, who investigators have identified as a key accused in the case, was taken into custody after arriving at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru from Azerbaijan.
According to the latest report, immigration officials acted on a lookout notice against him at the airport and handed him over to the investigating team. He was subsequently taken for questioning as authorities continue to examine his alleged role in the wider network.
The investigation had earlier faced difficulties because Prashant was reportedly in Azerbaijan. Earlier reports said his visa had expired and Azerbaijani authorities had taken action against him. Since there was no direct extradition arrangement between India and Azerbaijan, investigators were waiting for an opportunity to take him into custody after his return to India.
The case first came to light following a raid on August 18 at a farmhouse in the Bidadi and Dodderi areas of Bengaluru South. Authorities reportedly recovered suspected counterfeit and expired medicines worth around Rs 5 crore, along with equipment, labels and documents believed to be connected with the alleged operation.
The discovery led investigators to widen the probe beyond the original location. Search operations were subsequently conducted at several locations across Karnataka and other states as officials attempted to understand how the suspected medicines were sourced, repackaged and distributed.
Investigators are examining whether lower priced medicines were allegedly repackaged and sold using labels resembling established pharmaceutical brands. Some of the medicines under scrutiny reportedly included critical care products, cancer medicines and ICU injections. Authorities are also checking the supply chain to determine which hospitals, clinics and medical shops may have received the suspected products.
Another important part of the investigation involves Veeresh Kumar Jain, the owner of Krupa Healthcare in Bengaluru. He was arrested during the investigation after officials searched his premises and recovered suspected counterfeit medicines and related material.
Investigators have alleged that Veeresh had links with Prashant and are examining the relationship between the two men. Police are also studying purchase records, sales documents, bank transactions and other material seized during the investigation to trace the movement of both medicines and money.
The scale of the suspected distribution network has also attracted attention. Investigators have been examining claims that suspected counterfeit medicines reached more than 90 hospitals and clinics in Bengaluru and surrounding areas. Reports have also referred to a network of medical representatives who allegedly helped distribute the products. The investigation is continuing, and authorities have said the full extent of the network is yet to be established.
Recent reports have put the suspected value of medicines sold through the network at much higher levels than the initial seizure. The Times of India reported that investigators believe spurious medicines worth around Rs 12 crore may have been sold to hospitals and clinics in Bengaluru and outside Karnataka since February 2025. These figures are part of an ongoing investigation and may change as authorities examine financial and supply records.
The Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration has also taken regulatory action following the investigation. Recent reporting said 16 drug licences were cancelled and eight others suspended after authorities examined alleged violations involving the manufacture, storage and distribution of medicines.
The investigation is now expected to focus more closely on Prashant following his arrest. Officials are likely to question him about the alleged source of the medicines, the people involved in the supply chain, financial transactions and the distribution network.
Authorities are also examining possible links outside Karnataka. Searches connected with the case have reportedly extended to states including Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. This has raised the possibility that the alleged operation involved a wider interstate supply chain rather than being limited to a single location.
The case has raised serious concerns because the suspected medicines included products intended for serious medical conditions. Investigators are therefore trying to establish how the products entered the market, whether patients received them and which establishments may have unknowingly handled them.
At this stage, allegations against the accused remain subject to investigation and legal proceedings. An arrest does not by itself establish guilt, and investigators will have to establish the alleged roles of the individuals involved through evidence collected during the probe.
With Prashant now in police custody, investigators have an opportunity to question one of the people they have identified as a key suspect in the alleged network. The answers obtained during the investigation could help authorities understand the structure of the operation and trace other individuals who may have been involved.
The fake medicine investigation is therefore likely to remain active in the coming days as police and drug control officials examine financial records, supply documents, seized medicines and statements from people connected with the case.
