Fake life-saving medicine racket busted in Delhi: Here's how they repackaged and sold drugs across several states

The Delhi Police crime branch has uncovered an interstate network allegedly involved in manufacturing and distributing counterfeit life-saving medicines. Four people were arrested after a raid in Mukherjee Nagar in north Delhi, where police recovered a large stock of medicines, packaging material and machinery allegedly used for illegal repackaging and sale of drugs, a TOI report stated.

Police said the syndicate was allegedly sourcing government-supplied medicines from Uttar Pradesh and other states, removing original labels and repackaging them for distribution in Delhi-NCR and parts of northeastern India.

The accused were identified as Manoj Kumar Jain (56), Raju Kumar Mishra (57), Vikram Singh (32) and Vatan (35).

Raid in Mukherjee Nagar

According to police, special commissioner of police (crime) Devesh Chandra Srivastva formed a team under DCP Pankaj Kumar after receiving intelligence inputs about the circulation of fake government-supplied medicines.

During the investigation, the crime branch traced the alleged operation to a premises in Mukherjee Nagar. The raid led to the arrest of Manoj Kumar Jain and the seizure of branded and government-supplied medicines, suspected fake drugs, raw materials, packaging and labelling material, and machines allegedly used for repackaging medicines.

Officials said the seized medicines included Albucel (human albumin), Lenvacast 4, Abhayrab Rabies vaccine, Lenvatol and snake venom antiserum. These medicines are used in the treatment of serious medical conditions.

Police claim Jain was the kingpin

“Jain was identified as the kingpin of the racket. Originally engaged in construction work in Manipur, he later moved to Delhi and, along with associates, began illegal manufacturing and repackaging of medicines nearly a year and a half ago from Mukherjee Nagar,” said joint CP Surender Kumar.

Police said Jain allegedly procured government-supplied medicines, changed their packaging and distributed them across Delhi, West Bengal and northeastern states.

Network spread across several states

Investigators said Mishra allegedly started a mask and glove business during the Covid-19 pandemic before shifting to third-party medicine trading. He later set up a unit in Derabassi in Punjab, where counterfeit human albumin was allegedly manufactured.

Police said Mishra later joined hands with Jain to distribute medicines in northeastern states.

According to investigators, Singh worked as a lab technician and operated a diagnostics centre in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Police alleged that he used his links with a hospital to identify surplus government medicines.

Vatan, who allegedly worked in surgical supplies after running a PPE-related business during the pandemic, is accused of helping procure and resell the medicines.

Hawala angle under investigation

Police said the syndicate allegedly operated a structured supply chain in which medicines were transported to Mukherjee Nagar for relabelling or illegal manufacturing before being distributed through networks in Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Imphal and other locations.

Investigators also suspect that hawala channels may have been used to route money generated through the operation. A financial investigation is underway.