Delhi Police Cracks Down on Fake Medicine Ring, Makes Multiple Arrests

In a significant operation, the Delhi Police have apprehended 10 individuals allegedly involved in the production and sale of fake medicines in the National Capital Region. The counterfeit drugs, including painkillers and antibiotics, were seized during raids conducted by three teams of the Crime Branch.

New Delhi: In a significant crackdown on the manufacturing and sale of fake medicines, the Delhi Police have arrested 10 individuals allegedly involved in the racket. The operation, conducted over the past four weeks, targeted networks operating within the National Capital Region (NCR).

Modus Operandi

Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sanjay Bhatia revealed that the police initiated an investigation in response to a sharp increase in the supply of fake medicines in Delhi's retail markets. Three teams from the Crime Branch were formed to gather intelligence and identify illegal rackets active in the Delhi-NCR region.

Initial Arrests and Seizures

Acting on specific inputs, the police conducted a search of a vehicle under Tilak Bridge. During the search, substantial quantities of counterfeit Ultracet, Amaryl 1M, Gluconorm, and Defcort tablets were confiscated. Two individuals were apprehended at the scene.

Upon interrogation, one of the arrested individuals confessed to the spurious nature of the medicines and provided information about two other suppliers. These suppliers were subsequently apprehended, leading to the seizure of over 44,500 tablets of Ultracet, Amaryl 1M, Gluconorm, and Defcort-6.

Further Arrests and Seizures

The operation continued with the arrest of another individual in Uttam Nagar. A search of his premises resulted in the seizure of 730 tablets of the same counterfeit brands.

In a separate development, three more individuals were apprehended from various locations in the trans-Yamuna area. A substantial quantity of fake Ultracet tablets, totaling approximately 57,000, was confiscated from their possession.

Legal Action and Investigations

The Delhi Police registered a case under sections 420 (cheating), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison), 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and sections 63 and 65 of the Copyright Act. These sections address issues related to fraud, endangering public safety, and copyright infringement.

Further investigations revealed that the fake Ultracet tablets were being manufactured at a factory in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. The owner of the manufacturing unit and an employee were arrested in connection with the case.

Transportation and Distribution Network

The investigation uncovered the transportation route of the counterfeit medicines. The tablets were manufactured in Mandi and transported to Panipat in Haryana before being brought to Delhi.

The spurious tablets were then sold to a medical store in Delhi's Geeta Colony. Subsequent raids were conducted in Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, leading to the seizure of additional large quantities of counterfeit tablets.

The Delhi Police's successful operation has disrupted a major network involved in the manufacturing and distribution of fake medicines in the National Capital Region. The arrests and seizures have prevented the circulation of harmful counterfeit drugs, ensuring the safety and well-being of the public.