Investigating officer Naresh Kumar stated that police have seized Vartika’s phone. The phone provided several clues, indicating that Vartika had been operating this counterfeit drug supply business for a long time.
The racket of supplying counterfeit drugs to cities in several states, including Punjab, was operating from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Vartika Agarwal, daughter of Rahul Agarwal, owner of Srilakshmi Pharma on Birhana Road in Kanpur, operated this entire business. Vartika Agarwal, who was arrested from Kanpur and brought to Ludhiana, was produced in court, where she was remanded to three days’ police custody.
Interrogation revealed that she supplied counterfeit drugs to various locations through her friend, Mohammad Hasan. The factory for manufacturing counterfeit drugs was located in a three-story building behind her medical store. After packaging the medicines, stickers were affixed here. The Special Task Force (STF) team exposed this entire business and arrested Vartika.
Investigating officer Naresh Kumar stated that in August, the STF team arrested an accused in the counterfeit drug supply case. When investigating the matter, the police were astonished. This entire business had links to several cities across the country. He said that the police team’s leads also led to Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where they raided several medical stores. During the investigation, the Kanpur connection emerged.
Supply was made via train and bus.
Naresh Kumar explained that the counterfeit medicines were supplied not only to Punjab but also to several cities in Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. Locally, the accused would send supplies via bus, and for those destined for other states, they would send them via train. The medicines were then supplied to medical stores located outside major hospitals in the city.
Fake medicines were being sold as branded ones, generating substantial profits. SI Naresh Kumar stated that the accused, Mohammad Hasan, had established local sources in every city. He was in contact with local shop owners who supplied the medicines, receiving payment in exchange. Police have identified several shopkeepers who were considered suspects and have been called in for questioning.
Transaction recordings recovered from Vartika’s phone
Investigating officer Naresh Kumar stated that police have seized Vartika’s phone. The phone provided several clues, indicating that Vartika had been running this counterfeit medicine business for a long time. Vartika’s friend, Mohammad Hasan, supplied medicines to several states. He would take orders and deliver them.
Police recovered several evidence from Vartika’s phone, including chats with Mohammad Hasan, voice call recordings, and payment transactions. This is furthering the investigation. Vartika’s bank account will be examined and the money transactions will be matched. According to Naresh Kumar, the investigation has already begun and will continue. Many more major revelations are likely.
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