Expired medicine racket busted, kingpin held

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, May 29

A team of the Drugs Control Department busted a racket of sale of expired medicines as new ones at the Industrial Area, Phase II, here today. The team seized stock worth about Rs 8 to Rs 10 lakh.

The team nabbed the kingpin, Rakesh, and got an FIR lodged against him. More persons are suspected to be involved in the crime.

Assistant Drug Controller Narender Ahuja said it was a huge gang which would buy expired medicines at nominal rates and would re-pack these by putting fresh expiry dates. The kingpin said he would purchase medicines from Panchkula and sell these at Saharanpur, Meerut and several other places.

“We got a tip-off regarding the racket from a person, who runs a social organisation. We laid a trap. Rakesh was called by the person to Sector 24, where he was nabbed,” said Ahuja.

During questioning, Rakesh revealed his modus operandi. He took us to a godown in the Industrial Area, Phase II, where a huge stock of medicines was kept and also the material used to remove the expiry dates, including alcohol and ink,” said the officer.