Bengaluru: The international trail behind a fake medicine racket has come under the scanner, with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) uncovering a Turkiye connection involving alleged kingpin R Prashanth Babu during interrogation.According to sources, Prashanth travelled to Turkiye several times a year to procure original labels of a New York-based pharmaceutical company. The labels were allegedly brought to India, affixed to counterfeit medicines and used to pass them off as genuine drugs.Investigators found that Prashanth had frequently travelled to Turkiye, but his Turkish visa was later cancelled, preventing him from travelling there directly. He allegedly then travelled to neighbouring and other countries, including Azerbaijan, while arranging for intermediaries to procure the labels from Turkiye on his behalf.The SIT has learnt that the original labels were manufactured in Turkiye and played a crucial role in the racket. Investigators also found that counterfeit medicines were sometimes mixed with genuine drugs before distribution. The SIT is questioning Prashanth further to uncover the racket’s international network.
