Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya on Wednesday, 24 June vowed strict action against all individuals linked to an alleged blood plasma adulteration racket dismantled by the Ahmedabad Rural Police's Special Operations Group (SOG), calling the tampering of life-saving medical supplies a 'grave offence that endangered patients' health.' Four people, including the alleged mastermind, have been arrested, and investigators are continuing to probe the wider network.

How the Racket Operated

The SOG moved against the operation after Assistant Sub-Inspector Mukeshsinh Dolatsinh and Constable Merubha Ghanshyamsinh received specific intelligence about suspicious activity within the Changodar police station jurisdiction. Investigators placed a suspect under surveillance and uncovered what they described as a 'well-organised' scheme involving the diversion and adulteration of blood plasma consignments bound for a pharmaceutical company in Changodar.

The alleged prime mover, Dinesh Chaudhary of Banaskantha district, had previously worked as a blood plasma collection executive with pharmaceutical companies. According to investigators, he used technical knowledge from that role to orchestrate the operation alongside Jitendra Solanki and Rafik Khalifa, who served as driver and co-driver of the transport vehicle.

The alleged scheme worked as follows: the transport team would inform Chaudhary whenever blood plasma consignments were collected from blood banks across Maharashtra. Before delivery, the vehicle was allegedly diverted to Chaudhary's residence, where genuine plasma units were removed and replaced with adulterated plasma bags — with the total quantity kept intact to avoid detection at the point of delivery.

What Was Seized

During the crackdown, police seized material valued at nearly ₹12.06 lakh. The haul included 1,140 blood plasma units worth approximately ₹11 lakh, a deep freezer, three chemical bottles, a sealing machine, 34 empty plasma bags, and a pick-up truck allegedly used in the operation. Investigators subsequently arrested another alleged key conspirator, Mohan Dajiba Gaikwad of Maharashtra, taking the total number of accused to five.

Legal Action and Charges

Changodar police registered a case under Sections 316(3), 338(2), 125, 276, 328(4) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The accused were produced before a court and remanded to police custody.

Government Response and Next Steps

Minister Pansheriya described adulterating blood plasma — a critical life-saving product — as an 'extremely serious and inhumane act' capable of undermining public confidence in the healthcare system. He stated that the government had adopted a 'zero-tolerance approach' towards such offences and that a 'transparent and impartial investigation' would ensure accountability.

He also announced that instructions had been issued to strengthen oversight of blood banks, plasma collection centres, and related facilities across Gujarat, with monitoring and control mechanisms to be reinforced to prevent recurrence. The SOG and its officers were commended for dismantling the alleged network.