Delhi Police Arrest Alleged Fake Medicine Racket Kingpin Mohammad Aqdas Siddiqui
The Delhi Police have arrested the alleged kingpin of an interstate counterfeit medicines racket from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh. The accused, identified as 28-year-old Mohammad Aqdas Siddiqui, had been on the run from law enforcement agencies since April 1.
Siddiqui, who is a BBA graduate from Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi and a resident of Muzaffarnagar, was apprehended in his hometown. His arrest, which was announced by the police on Friday, brings the total number of accused individuals held in connection with this case to 10.
According to police officials, the syndicate clandestinely manufactured counterfeit versions of popular medicines from reputed pharmaceutical companies. To make the fake products look authentic, the group used fake packaging material, forged labels, counterfeit trademarks, and fabricated dyes that closely resembled genuine pharmaceutical products.
The range of fake medicines produced by the syndicate included drugs commonly prescribed to treat serious ailments such as diabetic neuropathy, nerve pain, calcium deficiency, nausea, and vertigo. These spurious medicines were allegedly sold to wholesalers and retailers at heavily discounted rates, nearly 60 percent below the actual market price of genuine medicines.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Aditya Gautam stated that the network was highly organized. The racket also involved suppliers, fake GST firm operators, a GST registration holder, and a bank account holder, all of whom have already been arrested as part of the ongoing crackdown.
Police noted that the accused not only caused significant financial losses to legitimate pharmaceutical companies but also severely endangered public health by circulating spurious medicines into the market.
Further investigation is currently under way by the police to identify the suppliers of the raw materials and counterfeit packaging. Investigators are also working to trace the financial trail of the transactions and completely dismantle the remaining interstate network involved in the manufacture and distribution of these fake medicines.
