Assistant drug controller suspended over counterfeit medicine case in Bengaluru
Karnataka's health department suspended Assistant Drug Controller Omkareshwar after he failed to inspect counterfeit drugs at Krupa Healthcare and act against its distributor.
The Department of Health and Family Welfare has suspended Omkareshwar, Assistant Drug Controller at the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) unit in Chamarajpet, Bengaluru. The order was issued on Monday.
According to health department officials, Omkareshwar did not inspect the counterfeit drugs seized from Krupa Healthcare, a firm located near Minerva Circle within his jurisdiction. Officials further said he failed to initiate appropriate action against the distributor involved in the case.
The suspension follows the recent arrest of Veeresh Jain, the owner of Krupa Healthcare, by a Special Investigation Team of the Bengaluru police along with the FDA. Jain is accused of supplying fake medicines to hospitals, medical stores and clinics across the city.
Investigators said the counterfeit consignments included cancer drugs, life-saving medicines and ICU injections. These were allegedly supplied to more than 90 hospitals and clinics in Bengaluru at a discount of 50%.
The case has raised questions about regulatory oversight in the district, with the department acting against its own official for lapses in inspection and enforcement.