Bengaluru: A massive racket involving the repacking and relabelling of suspected spurious medicines has been unearthed near Bengaluru, prompting Karnataka Health Minister U T Khader to push for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to trace the wider network behind the operation.

Acting on a tip-off, officials of the Food and Drugs Administration raided a farmhouse at Kurubarakeranahalli in Bidadi on Wednesday and allegedly uncovered an unauthorised pharmaceutical repacking unit. Drugs and related material estimated to be worth around ₹5 crore were seized during the operation.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the medicines were sourced from Himachal Pradesh and Telangana before being brought to the farmhouse, where they were allegedly repacked into fresh vials and relabelled to resemble products of well-known pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, Eucratia Healthcare Private Ltd and Welcure Remedies.

Officials said the suspected spurious medicines could contain no active pharmaceutical ingredients, incorrect ingredients or potentially harmful substances. QR and scanning codes printed on the labels were also found to be non-functional, raising further suspicion about the authenticity of the products.

The farmhouse where the operation was allegedly being carried out belongs to Siddaiah and is said to have been leased to Prashanth, who is reportedly based in Dubai. According to the department, the operation was allegedly run by a person identified as Tejas. Police have arrested Prabhu Dev Gowda, said to be one of the workers at the facility.

However, investigators are yet to establish the full distribution network, including the pharmacies, hospitals and other healthcare facilities where the suspected spurious medicines may have been supplied.

Health Minister U T Khader said he had discussed the matter with the Home Minister and that the government was considering the formation of an SIT comprising police and health department officials.

“I have spoken to the Home Minister. We are planning to constitute a Special Investigation Team to investigate the matter. Other states will also be informed. The investigation will cover the logistics network, middlemen and the entire supply chain of the spurious drugs,” he said.

Khader said the government would investigate whether similar illegal operations were being carried out elsewhere in Karnataka.

Under Section 17B of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, the manufacture, sale, stocking or distribution of spurious drugs is a serious offence. Depending on the nature of the violation, those found guilty can face imprisonment ranging from a minimum of 10 years to life.

The seized stock is expected to be produced before the JMFC court in Bengaluru South as the investigation continues.