Linked to drug racket, Kala Amb firm sealed

In a major crackdown on the illegal trade of psychotropic substances, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Chandigarh unit, on Sunday sealed Kala Amb-based Vellinton Healthcare, following a day-long raid that led to the seizure of a massive stockpile of drugs.

Vellinton Healthcare, a sister concern of Digital Vision, came under the scanner after the recent arrest of Digital Vision’s partner Anuj Kumar, who was allegedly involved in the illicit diversion of psychotropic substances. During interrogation, Kumar denied any role in Vellinton’s operations, claiming that his signatures had been forged to list him as the responsible person under Section 34 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

NCB officials confirmed the recovery of 50,000 injections of Tramadol, 5,000 injections of another psychotropic substance, 12 kg of Tramadol powder and 500 grams of Diazepam, among other drugs. Assistant Drugs Controller Garima Sharma said a state drugs inspector was deputed to assist the NCB during the raid.

Preliminary probe has revealed that Digital Vision functioned as a key player in an interstate racket supplying huge quantities of Tramadol capsules and Codeine Phosphate cough syrup to fictitious distributor firms in Jodhpur and Dehradun. These entities existed only on paper, with payments traced to a co-accused already in custody. Evidence gathered so far, including seized invoices and bank records, indicates that over 48 lakh Tramadol capsules and 12,000 cough syrup bottles were diverted over the past 18 months.

Digital Vision had earlier faced controversy in 2020 after its toxic cough syrup was linked to 12 infant deaths in Udhampur, casting a long shadow over the firm’s operations once again.