Spurious drugs racket kingpin arrested in Bengaluru

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the spurious drugs manufacturing and sale racket arrested the alleged kingpin R. Prashanth, who had been absconding and was reportedly hiding in Azerbaijan after the case came to light.

A lookout notice had been issued against Prashanth. SIT officials arrested him at Kempegowda International Airport when he returned to Bengaluru from abroad, investigation sources said on September 28.

The arrest was reportedly made based on the statement of another accused, Veeresh Jain, who has a shop at Minerva Circle in Bengaluru. Prashanth is being questioned by the SIT.

After his arrest, Prashanth was taken for a medical examination. Subsequently, he was taken to the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner’s office, where SIT officials are recording his preliminary statement.

According to sources, the SIT is likely to produce Prashanth before a judge later on September 28.

The Tavarekere police had in August this year raided a farm house near Bidadi and seized suspected counterfeit medicines worth around ₹5 crore, along with fake bills, injection-filling equipment, and counterfeit labels. Later, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to probe the wider racket.

The kingpin Prashanth managed to escape during the raid and was holed up in Azerbaijan since then.