Ahmedabad Crime Branch Dismantles Interstate Fake Blood Pressure Drug Network Involving Lucknow

In Brief

1. Three key operatives linked to a fake blood pressure drug syndicate have been arrested.
2. The interstate racket operated primarily across Ahmedabad and Lucknow.
3. A joint operation by local police and drug control authorities disrupted the supply network.
4. The investigation underscores the need for strict monitoring of pharmaceutical supply chains.

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch, in coordination with the Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA), has busted an interstate racket distributing counterfeit blood pressure medicines. Officials arrested three key operatives connected to supply channels spanning Ahmedabad and Lucknow.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Darsheel Girishbhai Sanghavi, an Ahmedabad wholesaler managing local distribution; Devendra Ramnath Ghaniram Yadav of Lucknow, who procured the fake stock at steep discounts; and Umang Abhay Parsottamdas Rastogi of Lucknow, who acted as a commission agent. Investigators noted that both Uttar Pradesh-based suspects have prior criminal histories involving counterfeit drug operations.

The crackdown followed targeted investigations prompted by reports of fake versions of a widely prescribed blood pressure drug entering the market. The counterfeit tablets were falsely manufactured and distributed across state boundaries, posing serious public health risks to patients.

Authorities emphasized the severity of illicit drug distribution, noting that the arrests mark a major step toward safeguarding consumer safety. Investigations are ongoing to identify additional supply nodes and completely dismantle the network at the grassroots level.