Court sets deadline for CBI
The Madras High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to complete its probe into a fake medicine case registered in Puducherry last year and file a final report before the competent court within 12 weeks.
Allegations and seizures
The case stems from allegations that counterfeit medicines were manufactured in Puducherry using the name of a well-known pharmaceutical company, Sun Pharma, and sold across the country. Following the complaint, the CBCID registered the case, inspected a fake manufacturing unit and multiple warehouses, and seized materials valued at about Rs 200 crore.
Arrests and transfer of investigation
In connection with the matter, the CBCID registered two cases and arrested 26 people, including Raja alias Valliyappan and Vivek Venkatesan. The investigation was later transferred to the CBI.
Quash petitions rejected
After securing bail, Vivek Venkatesan and Raja approached the High Court seeking to quash the proceedings, arguing that only drug inspectors could investigate such offences and that police lacked authority, also citing similar cases elsewhere. Justice Ilanthiraiyan held that police have full powers to investigate offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Copyright Act, noted the alleged use of fake labels, packaging and 3D security strips to mislead consumers and distributors, and refused to quash the case at the initial stage while directing the CBI to conclude the probe within the stipulated time.
