Fake drug case: Prashanth Ranjan Babu arrested at B'luru airport
Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Sep 28 (IANS) The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the fake drug manufacturing case arrested prime accused Prashanth Ranjan Babu at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Monday, after he returned to India from Azerbaijan. According to police, Prashanth had allegedly fled to Azerbaijan following the exposure of the fake medicine network and was traced there by the investigating team. Following pressure from the SIT, he returned to India and was taken into custody upon his arrival at the airport early Monday. The SIT will produce him before the jurisdictional court later in the day and is expected to seek his custody for further questioning. The investigators are probing the extent of the fake medicine network, the locations where the alleged manufacturing and distribution activities were carried out, and how long the racket had been operating. The questioning of Prashanth is expected to provide further details about the network and the involvement of others in the alleged fake drug manufacturing and distribution racket. It can be noted that a major fake medicine scam centred around Bengaluru involved the seizure of counterfeit, expired, and relabeled life-saving, ICU, and cancer drugs valued at over Rs 5 crore. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested a local pharmacy owner and found that the illicit network supplied compromised drugs to over 90 hospitals and clinics. Later, SIT conducted raids which expanded across multiple locations in Karnataka, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. The Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) has cancelled 16 drug licenses and suspended eight others belonging to retailers, wholesalers, and distributors tied to the scam. Among the suspended licences was the Pfizer C&F (Carrying and Forwarding) Depot. Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Khader stated that the agency failed to cooperate with investigators or provide the reference standards needed to lab-test the chemical components of the seized fake medications. As counterfeit cancer and critical care drugs were distributed, the Health Department is actively trying to track down affected patients to evaluate their health status. The Health Department has strongly urged the public to check labels carefully for suspicious packaging and report any non-scanning QR codes directly to Drug Enforcement authorities. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the Drugs Control Department arrested the pharmacy owner, Veeresh Kumar Jain of Krupa Healthcare in Bengaluru and seized spurious medicines worth over Rs 5 crore.
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TN: Tight security in Madurai for CM Vijays visit today
Digital Desk | Madurai, Sep 28 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Police have put a five-tier security arrangement in place at Madurai airport for Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijays visit on Monday. Security has also been stepped up along the roads he is expected to use during his engagements in the city. Police personnel have been stationed on both sides of the road from the airport to Government Rajaji Hospital, CM Vijays first stop after his scheduled arrival at 11 a.m. Sniffer dogs have been used to inspect the airport complex, while the Central Industrial Security Force and local police were checking vehicles before allowing them onto the premises. Drone flights have been prohibited during the visit. Barricades have been erected near the airport and in Mandela Nagar, Avaniyapuram and Chinthamani to control access along the Chief Ministers route. Security arrangements extend beyond the airport corridor to the Gandhi Museum, the Government Tourist Office and the Meenakshi Amman Temple. Police are expected to regulate traffic as the convoy moves between venues, with temporary restrictions possible on the roads it uses. After the hospital programme, the convoy is expected to pass Anna Bus Stand and the Collectors Office on its way to the Gandhi Museum. From there, the planned route to the Government Tourist Office includes Law College, Rajamuthiah Mandram, Race Course and the Forest Department office. In the evening, CM Vijay is expected to travel from the tourist office through Goripalayam, Nelpettai and Keezhavasal to the Meenakshi Amman Temple. His return route towards the airport is planned via Kamarajar Road, Munichalai, Ganesh Theatre junction, Vaigai South Bank Road, Ring Road and Viraganur junction. The arrangements cover a route through several busy parts of Madurai, as well as the airport and venues on the Chief Ministers schedule. Barricades and vehicle checks are in place at key points, while personnel deployed along the roads will manage the convoys movement through the city. Police have made similar tight arrangements for the return journey to the airport after the temple visit. CM Vijays Madurai programme includes the launch of the Thaai Maaman Gold Ring scheme for children born in government hospitals and the reopening of the Gandhi Museum after its renovation at a cost of about Rs 10 crore. Following lunch and a break at the Government Tourist Office, he is scheduled to visit the Meenakshi Amman Temple at 5 p.m. before flying back to Chennai.
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Digital Desk | Trichy (Tamil Nadu), Sep 27 (IANS) Tamil scholar and Head of the Tamil Department at Manapparai Government Arts and Science College, Professor Selvaraj, on Sunday expressed happiness after Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted his discovery of a Veerakkal (hero stone) during his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat. Selvaraj said the Prime Minister's appreciation had encouraged him to continue his efforts to document and create awareness about Tamil Nadu's rich cultural and historical heritage. Speaking about his research, Selvaraj said he had earlier discovered a Chola inscription in the Thalikaipatharpet area near Trichy, his native place. During the course of his research, he also came across a Jain rock inscription and published details of his findings in academic journals. He said his interest in historical inscriptions and heritage sites subsequently led him to conduct research in the Manapparai region as well. Similarly, I conducted research in Manapparai. Based on information given by a student, I discovered a Veerakkal. I took students to the site and explained its significance to them. The Hon'ble Prime Minister has appreciated this work. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Selvaraj said. He emphasised the importance of taking such discoveries to students, saying several traces of cultural heritage could be found in and around the places where people live. We need to take this information to students. Only then will they understand its true significance, he said. Selvaraj said the recognition through Mann Ki Baat was particularly meaningful as it brought attention to efforts undertaken at the grassroots level to preserve and understand India's historical heritage. His wife, Professor Sharmila, also expressed happiness over the Prime Minister's mention of her husband's work. It is surprising to hear Prime Minister Modi speak about this. I am very happy. The Prime Minister has been continuously speaking through this programme. Despite his heavy workload, he gives importance to and speaks about the small things done by ordinary people. I once again express my heartfelt thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said.
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