Fake medicine racket: Alleged mastermind arrested at Bengaluru airport after Gulf trip

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Sep 29, 2026: Prashanth Rajanbabu, the alleged mastermind of an interstate fake medicine racket, frequently travelled abroad, particularly to Gulf countries, reportedly in connection with the fraudulent activities, police sources said.

Prashanth, 35, a medical representative from Papareddy Palya in western Bengaluru, was arrested shortly after arriving from Azerbaijan at Kempegowda International Airport in the early hours of Monday.

He allegedly played a key role in procuring and distributing spurious medicines. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) suspects that his frequent overseas trips may have been linked to the racket.

The racket came to light after authorities raided a farmhouse near Tavarekere on the outskirts of Bengaluru on August 18. The state government subsequently constituted an SIT comprising officials from the police and Drugs Control Department to conduct a detailed investigation.

Prashanth lived with his family in Papareddy Palya near Vijayanagar, but his family members were reportedly unaware of his alleged involvement in the racket, a senior police officer said.

About a year ago, he leased the farmhouse and reportedly visited it once every two weeks.

Investigators suspect that his experience as a medical representative in Bengaluru and various parts of Telangana helped him establish contacts with distributors and others involved in the alleged supply chain.

According to investigators, the gang procured cheap, substandard and expired medicines, including low-cost cancer drugs, from states such as Telangana and Himachal Pradesh. The medicines were allegedly repackaged and distributed through a network operating across several parts of the country.

The SIT is also examining suspected financial transactions and money transfers involving hospitals, distributors, medical shops and other entities allegedly linked to the racket.

Investigators have seized several electronic devices belonging to Prashanth as part of the probe, the officer said.