CHANDIGARH CONNECTION : Aekansh Verma was arrested in the case from Chandigarh who provided empty capsules and also sold manufactured spurious medicine to needy customers. At his instance, spurious medicines were recovered from his residence and office. Consequently, Prabhat Kumar was arrested and spurious medicines were recovered from his residence in Ghaziabad.
MANUFACTURING UNIT AT SONIPAT: GODOWN BUSTED AT TRONICA CITY, GHAZIABAD: MANUFACTURING UNIT AT SONIPAT, HARYANA AND GODOWN BUSTED AT TRONICA CITY, GHAZIABAD, U.P. ARRESTED ACCUSED SELLING FALSE HOPES BY PROVIDING FAKE DRUGS WITH NO ACTIVE INGREDIENT AND PLAYING WITH PRECIOUS LIVES OF INNOCENT VICTIMS 20 INTERNATIONAL BRANDS CANCER MEDICINES WORTH ₹ 8 CRORE RECOVERED, BESIDES HUGE QUANTITY OF LOOSE MEDICINES, PACKETS, PACKAGING MATERIAL AND MACHINERY EQUIPMENT SEIZED.
Face2News/New Delhi
With the arrest of accused Dr. Pabitra Narayan Pardhan S/o Sukumar Pardhan R/o Flat No.207, IInd floor, Chauhan Residency, Sec-45, Noida, UP, Age- 34 years, Shubham Manna S/o Tapas Kumar Manna R/o Flat No.207, IInd floor, Chauhan Residency, Sec-45, Noida, UP, Age- 29 years, Pankaj Singh Bohra S/o Mohan Singh R/o Village Naukhuna, PS Gangoli Hat, Distt. Pithoragarh, Uttrakhand, Age- 27 years Ankit Sharma @ Anku @ Bhajji S/o Ashwani Sharma R/o H.No. 355, Neb Sarai, New Delhi, Age- 26 years, Ram Kumar @ Harbir S/o Raj Singh R/o H.No. 257, Badshahi Road, Near BSNL Exchange, Gannaur, District Sonipat (HR), Age- 43 years, Aekansh Verma S/o Raj Kumar Verma R/o 1127, Escon Arena, Nagla Road, Chandigarh, Age- 27 years, Parbhat Kumar S/o Shishupal Rastogi R/o Flat No. 904, Emrald-2, Gardenia Glamour Society, Sec-3, Vasundhara, Ghaziabad, UP, Age- 45 years team of ISC, Crime Branch busted a gang involved in manufacturing/supplying spurious life saving cancer drugs.
INFORMATION, TEAM & OPERATION: There were some vital inputs at ISC Crime Branch, Delhi regarding involvements of an international gang in manufacturing/supplying spurious life saving cancer drugs. These individuals were indulging in inter-state dealings and pan-India involvement in manufacturing/supplying spurious/counterfeit life saving drugs, since long. The accused persons were making profit out of the illness and misery of cancer patients, selling them false hopes by providing fake drugs, with no active ingredients and playing with the precious lives of innocent persons who were already suffering from life-threatening diseases like cancer.
A team comprising of Insp. Kamal, Insp. Pawan Kumar, Insp. Mahipal Singh, SI Surender Rana, ASI Ramesh, ASI Rakesh, ASI Jafruddin, ASI Sukender, ASI Gulab, HC Ramkesh, HC Varun, HC Shakti, HC Surender, HC Sunil, HC Dalbir, HC Lalit, HC Tarun, Ct. Navin, under the supervision of Inspr. Satendra Mohan and over all supervision of Sh. Ramesh Chander Lamba, ACP/ISC was constituted by Sh. Amit Goel, DCP Crime to arrest the accused persons.Mr. Ravindra Singh Yadav, IPS, Special Commissioner of Police Crime, said on interrogation, alleged Pankaj Singh Bohra accepted that the recovered medicines are spurious and only Astra Zeneca company is authorized to sell them in India. He also disclosed that their godown is located at B-314, Ground Floor, Sec-8, Tronica City, Loni, Ghaziabad, UP. From the search of the bag of Pankaj Singh Bohra, and recovered Tab. Tagrisso 80 mg AstraZeneca 190 tablets, Tab Ventoxen 100 mg Incepta Pharmaceuticals 600 Tablets. Tab. Ocient 80mg Incepta Pharmaceuticals 1500 tablets
The team further developed the afore-said information given by ASI Gulab for two months and it was revealed that the godown of the alleged persons is located at Tronica City, Loni, Ghaziabad where on the directions of Dr. Pabitra Pradhan and Shubham Manna, their associates Pankaj Bohra and Ankit Sharma @ Bhajji used to pack the spurious medicines used in the treatment of cancer patient.
It further revealed that Dr. Parbitra Pardhan & Shubham Manna are staying at a flat located at Sec-43, Noida, UP and operating/managing all the operations from there. It was also further revealed that on the directions of Dr. Pabitra Pradhan, Pankaj Bohra and Ankit Sharma used to deliver the spurious medicines at different locations in Delhi and they used to book the ‘We Fast’ courier for delivery of the medicines across the country.
Separate teams were constituted to intercept/track the movement of the alleged persons. During this operation, one of the teams intercepted the movement of one of the alleged persons at Bhairon Mandir Road, near Pragati Maidan over one Scooty carrying a bag. The team overpowered the afore-said person, whose identity was established as Pankaj Singh Bohra. On inspection of the bag, medicines were recovered.
Mr. Ravindra Singh Yadav, IPS, Special Commissioner of Police Crime, said on interrogation, alleged Pankaj Singh Bohra accepted that the recovered medicines are spurious and only Astra Zeneca company is authorized to sell them in India. He also disclosed that their godown is located at B-314, Ground Floor, Sec-8, Tronica City, Loni, Ghaziabad, UP. From the search of the bag of Pankaj Singh Bohra, and recovered Tab. Tagrisso 80 mg AstraZeneca 190 tablets, Tab Ventoxen 100 mg Incepta Pharmaceuticals 600 Tablets. Tab. Ocient 80mg Incepta Pharmaceuticals 1500 tablets
Subsequently, the second team apprehended Dr. Pabitra Narayan Pardhan, Shubham Manna and Ankit Sharma @ Anku @ Bhajji from Flat No.207, IInd floor, Chauhan Residency, Sec-45, Noida, UP and from the search of the flat, ₹ 1.3 lacs and following recoveries were affected
Tab. Tagrisso 80 mg AstraZeneca 150 tablets, Tab Tagrix 80 mg BEACON Pharmaceuticals 4500 Tablets, Tab Osicent 80mg Incepta Pharmaceuticals 450 Tablets, Tab Olanib 150mg Everest Pharmaceuticals 1200 Tablets, Cap. Palboxen 125 mg Everest Pharmaceuticals 105 Capsules, Tab Osimert 80mg Everest Pharmaceuticals 600 Tablets, Cap Palbocent 125mg Incepta Pharmaceuticals 1050 Capsules
On verification of Tagrisso 80 MG (Osimertinib Tab), Sh. Amit Kumar, Manager Regulatory Affairs, AstraZeneca company reported/verified that the same is “COUNTERFEIT and posed a patient safety risk”. In this regard, the present case vide FIR No. 260/2022 u/s 274/275/276/ 420/468/471/120B/34 IPC was registered, and the accused persons were arrested in the present case.
INTERROGATION: During interrogation of the accused persons, it was revealed that Dr. Pabitra Narayan Pardhan completed his MBBS from China in the year 2012. During the MBBS course, his batch-mate, Dr. Rasel (native of Bangladesh) intimated that he can provide API (Actual Pharmaceutical Ingredients) required to manufacture spurious medicines used in the treatment of Cancer. He further told him that the afore-said medicines have a very heavy demand in the Markets of India and China and are highly expensive. From the selling of these spurious medicines, they can earn huge amounts of money. Dr. Anil, who is their friend and who also completed MBBS from China, also agreed to supply such spurious medicines through his contact in India and China.
Thereafter, Dr. Pabitra involved his cousin Shubham Manna and other associates and started manufacturing the spurious medicines meant for the treatment of cancer. To start with, he designed foil strips, outer packaging and got them printed from Dehrahdun and Noida. Capsules were taken from Aekansh for packing of spurious powder. They used to give capsules and foil paper to one Ramkumar @ Harbir who further procured the raw material and prepared tablets and capsules in his factory in Gannaur, Sonipat (Haryana) as per their demand. They rented a house in Tronica City, Ghaziabad (UP) for final packaging and supply. Further, Dr. Pabitra and Shubham Manna constituted a supply chain through Dr. Anil, Aekansh and Prabhat.
SUBSEQUENT RAIDS: At the instance of the accused persons, a raid was conducted at H.No. B-323, Tronica City, Ghaziabad (UP) and on recovery of huge quantity of medicines and other materials, officers of U.P. Drug Control Department were called at the spot. Following medicines and other materials have been recovered from the godown:- Tagrisso 80 Mg- 150 Tablets, Lenvanix 4- 5610 Capsules, Lenvaxen 10- 300 Capsules, Lenvanix 10- 2130 Capsules, Tagrix 80 Strip, One Full Loose Carton of Tablets Lysodren-2900, Ventoxen- 660 Tablets, Ibruxen- 5520 Capsules, Osimert- 2070 Tablets, Lenvaxen 4- 930 Capsules, filled With Tabaoloo suspected to be Osimert- 6750 Tablets, Unnamed Brown Tablets- 10770, Unnamed With Red Tablets- 3420, Unnamed With Round Orange Tablets- 13400, Unnamed Oval White Tablets- 8700, Unnamed Round White Tablets- 6100, Revolade 25 Mg- 12901 Tablets, Revolade 50 Mg- 7014 Tablets, Osicent 80- 4620 Capsules, Palbocent 125- 911 Capsules, Lucisun 50- 5040 Capsules, Lucibru 140- 5520, Capsules, Elbonix 25- 742, Unnamed Red & White Capsule- 6kg Approx, Skin Colour- 2.5 Kg. In addition, huge quantity of packaging material/boxes, vacant plastic box, one batch mark embossing machine, one induction sealing machine, 6 tablet counter machine, one shrink water dryer, 5 stamps for hologram and 500 hologram strips were also seized.
During investigation, at the instance of the accused Dr. Pabitra, accused Ram Kumar @ Harbir was arrested. At his instance, 100 kg Maize Starch and approx 86,500 empty capsules were recovered which were being used to prepare fake drugs. Ram Kumar bought raw materials from the open market i.e Maize Starch, Maltodextrine etc. and API was being provided by accused Dr. Pabitra. About 14 modern machines and equipment were being used to prepare spurious medicines in his factory.
From the cheated amount, Dr. Pabitra and Shubham Manna purchased 02 plots in Gurugram on which they are constructing 08 flats. Dr. Pabitra also invested in lands in Durgapur, WB and also paid money to buy land in Nepal. The investigation is continuing regarding Dr. Rasel and Dr. Anil who are still at large.
RECOVERY: Medicines worth ₹ 8 crore of seven companies of India, US, United Kingdom, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Empty 6150 Bottle/Packet Covers of renowned Cancer medicine companies, ₹ 14.99 lacs freezed in bank locker of Shubham Manna, ₹ 1.3 lacs cash, One batch mark embossing machine, One induction sealing machine, Six tablet counter machine, One shrink water dryer, Five stamp for hologram, 500 hologram strips, 100 kg Maize Starch, Approx 86500 blank capsules, Fourteen Machines from the factory of Sonipat (HR), Twelve mobile phones and a laptop, Scooty used in crime,. Property papers of 02 plots in Gurugram.
PROFILE OF ACCUSED PERSONS: Dr. Pabitra Narayan Pardhan is an MBBS from the University of China. After MBBS, he earlier worked with GTB Hospital, Delhi, Super Specialty Cancer Institute, Delhi and Deepchand Bandhu Hospital, Delhi as a Junior Resident. In greed of money, he involved his cousin brother Shubham Manna & Ram Kumar @ Harbir and started making spurious cancer drugs. He was providing spurious medicines at 50% discount of market price. He used to take money in anonymous accounts and he bought properties from cheated amount. He was manufacturing and supplying more than 21 spurious cancer medicines of various companies of different countries.
Shubham Manna is B.Tech from Banglore. He earlier served in MNCs and later joined Dr. Pabitra in greed of huge money. He was embossing batch no, expiry date on medicine and was looking after packaging part. He also invested in properties from the cheated amount.
Pankaj Singh Bohra is ITI diploma holder and was working with Dr. Pabitra and Shubham Manna. He was supplying the fake medicines to customers through a Courier Company.
Ankit Sharma @ Anku @ Bhajji is also ITI diploma holder and was working with Dr. Pabitra and Shubham Manna. He was supplying the fake medicines to customers through Courier Company.
Ram Kumar @ Harbir is running a pharmaceutical factory namely RDM Biotech (Gannaur) at H.No.257, Badshahi Road, Near BSNL Exchange, Haryana, 131101, which was being used to prepare fake medicine. He met with accused Dr. Pabitra in Bawana Delhi in the year 2018 when he went to purchase a machine.
Accused Pavitra informed him that he is a doctor from AIIMS and he requires various medicines for his private hospital. He was preparing fake medicines with starch and API provided by Dr. Pabitra.
Aekansh Verma has his own pharma firm namely Medyork Pharma in Manimajra, Chandigarh. He supplied one lac capsules to Ram @ Harbir on the directions of Dr. Pabitra. On each capsule “Incepta” (Company of Bangladesh) has been encrypted. He has been procuring Tegrisso and other spurious cancer cure tablets from Dr Pabitra which he supplied to patients. He has taken a facility of “Indiamart” to have details of mobile number of such customers who were searching online for cancer medicines. With the mobile phone, he used to contact them and provided spurious medicines on lesser price. He was taking margins to the tune of 50%.
Parbhat Kumar is the owner of Aditya Pharma and having office in Bhagirath Place, Chandani Chowk, Delhi. He is a MBA and has earlier worked in a MNC. Later, he came into wholesale business of Oncology and Nephrology related related medicines. Dr. Anil used to come to his shop for Cancer drugs and in due course, he offered spurious drugs at less prices. In greed of money, he started taking delivery of fake drugs from Dr. Anil and Dr. Pabitra. He used to sell such spurious medicines to his customers in India and through courier to China.
Further investigation is in progress to bust the entire international chain.