Fake drugs ‘kingpin’ who fled to Azerbaijan held on arrival in Bengaluru

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating a spurious drugs manufacturing and sale racket has arrested the alleged kingpin, R. Prashanth, who had been hiding out in Azerbaijan after the case came to light. Prashanth was apprehended at Kempegowda International Airport on September 28 upon his return to Bengaluru from abroad, according to investigation sources. The arrest came after a lookout notice was issued for Prashanth.

Veereesh Jain, another accused with a shop at Minerva Circle in Bengaluru, provided a statement leading to Prashanth's arrest. Prashanth is currently being questioned by the SIT. Following his arrest, he underwent a medical examination and was subsequently taken to the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner's office, where SIT officials are recording his preliminary statement.

The SIT is expected to present Prashanth before a judge later on September 28. In August, the Tavarekere police had raided a farmhouse near Bidadi, seizing suspected counterfeit medicines worth around ₹5 crore, along with fake bills, injection-filling equipment, and counterfeit labels. Subsequently, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to probe the wider racket.

Prashanth managed to escape during the farmhouse raid and had been hiding in Azerbaijan ever since.