The Delhi Police investigation into an Ayurvedic medicine scam has uncovered a sophisticated operation involving more than five call centres in Delhi and Lucknow, which targeted over 6,300 victims.
The accused individuals posed as a marketing company and allegedly sold fake and adulterated medicines worth Rs 1 crore ($135,000) last year. They used the ill-gotten money to purchase properties and an MG Hector car in Delhi and Lucknow.
The scam came to light when a marketing firm filed a complaint with the Delhi Police Special Cell, alleging that the gang was using their name to sell “fake, spurious, and misbranded” medicines across India.
According to the police, the accused had access to data on patients and potential customers, which they obtained through an insider at a telecommunications company.
The sale of fake and adulterated medicines resulted in serious health issues for some patients, prompting numerous complaints to the marketing company, claiming losses exceeding Rs 2 crore ($270,000).
Through investigations, the police identified and raided three call centres in Swaroop Nagar (Delhi), Indira Nagar (Lucknow), and Jankipuram (Lucknow). Ten gang members were arrested, and boxes of adulterated medicines were seized.
Further probe revealed the existence of two additional call centres in Pooth Kalan (Delhi) and Indira Nagar (Lucknow), leading to the arrest of two more individuals involved in running the operations.
Prashant Gautam, DCP (Special Cell), stated that the accused enticed victims with substantial discounts on diabetes, blood pressure, and orthopedic medicines. Records showed that they sold medicines worth Rs 1 crore across the country in the last year, manufacturing them using inexpensive chemicals.
The police have seized the MG Hector car and taken action against all five call centres, along with the properties in Delhi and Lucknow. They are now focused on locating the suppliers of adulterated medicines and continuing the investigation.
