A major racket involving counterfeit drugs allegedly relabelled with the names of multinational pharmaceutical companies has been unearthed in Ramanagara district, Karnataka, with spurious medicines worth over ₹5 crore seized following a raid on 19 August. Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Khader confirmed the bust on Wednesday and called for a coordinated interstate and Central government investigation, citing suspected links to fake drug manufacturing units in Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, and possibly beyond.

How the Racket Was Uncovered

The case came to light after beat police personnel alerted authorities on Tuesday evening. Acting on the tip-off, officials from the Drug Control Department and the Commissionerate of Food Safety and Drug Administration conducted a raid at a farmhouse in Bidadi, where the spurious drugs were allegedly being stored and repacked before distribution to pharmaceutical outlets and hospitals.

The premises was found to be operating without a valid licence. One person, identified as Prabhudev, has been arrested and is currently being questioned to help investigators map the full supply chain. The Ramanagara Superintendent of Police is leading the investigation.

How the Fake Drug Operation Allegedly Worked

According to Minister Khader, the accused allegedly procured medicines at very low prices and relabelled them using the branding of established multinational pharmaceutical companies before supplying them to hospitals and medical shops. The scheme reportedly extended even to critical-care medicines.

'Even tablets used in ICUs are being faked and labelled with multinational companies' names. If an injection costs ₹20,000, they supply it for ₹5,000 to ₹6,000 to hospitals,' Khader said, describing the operation as a serious public health threat.

Authorities are also probing whether the labels and stickers used on the fake medicines were manufactured locally or sourced from elsewhere. 'We suspect that the accused may have procured labels and stickers from hospitals and used them for fake drugs,' the minister added.

The Alleged Network: Dubai, Multiple States

The suspected racket is believed to have several layers — raw material procurement, logistics, repackaging, distribution, and supply to end buyers. The minister identified Prashanth, believed to be based in Dubai, as the main accused, and Tejas as the person operating on the ground within India. Investigators are working to identify middlemen and the hospitals or outlets that may have received the spurious stock.

Khader warned that establishments that procured medicines at unusually low prices could come under scrutiny as the probe widens.

Government's Response and Next Steps

Minister Khader said he has already spoken to the Union Health Minister and the Home Ministry, and is pushing for a joint team from the Health and Home departments to investigate the interstate and international dimensions of the case. He also indicated he would discuss the matter with Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge and seek the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

'This is not limited to Karnataka. Such factories may be operating across the country. We need a separate and coordinated investigation considering the logistics, supply chain and consumers,' Khader said.

The minister noted that the Drug Control Department maintains a database of over 12 lakh medicines and routinely identifies and bans spurious drugs when they enter the market. Officials who conducted the raid are being considered for recognition by the government. As the Ramanagara police investigation progresses, further details on the network's full extent are expected to emerge.