New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a major case (RC No. RC2182026A0003) and formally taken over the investigation of a large-scale illegal pharmaceutical manufacturing racket operating in the Mettupalayam and Sedarapet industrial areas of Puducherry.
The case, originally registered as Cr. No. 27/2025 by the Crime Branch-CID (CBCID), Puducherry Police (along with a related case Cr. No. 206/2025 at Mettupalayam Police Station), involves the alleged illegal manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of spurious and adulterated drugs in violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Three persons named as accused in the CBI FIR:
- Shri Vivek Venkatesan of Amman Pharma, Puducherry
- Shri Raja, Puducherry
- Shri A.K. Rana of Meenakshi Pharma, Puducherry
The offences include criminal conspiracy, adulteration of drugs, cheating and illegal manufacture/sale of spurious drugs under Sections 61, 276 and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and Sections 27(d) and 17B(b) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Massive Raids Triggered the Probe
Between September 1 and December 8, 2025, the Department of Drugs Control, Puducherry, conducted an intensive statewide operation based on credible intelligence. Raids on multiple licensed and unlicensed pharmaceutical units led to the sealing of premises, seizure of huge quantities of finished spurious drugs, raw materials, packing materials, machinery and equipment. Samples were sent to the Central Drugs Testing Laboratory (CDTL), Chennai for analysis.The CBCID, Puducherry Police registered cases, conducted extensive investigation, made multiple arrests and recovered incriminating material. However, the probe revealed complex inter-state supply chains, financial transactions and the possible involvement of an organised criminal network operating across states.
Why CBI Took Over
Considering the gravity of the offences, their inter-state ramifications and the need for specialised multi-disciplinary investigation, the Government of Puducherry, with the approval of the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, decided to hand over the cases to the CBI.
Key official communications:
- December 26, 2025: Government of Puducherry (Vigilance) issued G.O. Ms. No. 04/CVO/2025 approving CBI investigation.
- December 31, 2025: Special Secretary (Home), Puducherry formally requested the CBI Director to take over the probe.
- February 24, 2026: Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India conveyed its ‘No Objection’ to the transfer.
The CBI has now re-registered the case and entrusted the investigation to Shri Anil Kumar, Police Inspector, CBI Anti-Corruption Branch-III, New Delhi. All case records, seized materials, samples, forensic reports and digital evidence are being handed over to the CBI.
In its order, the Puducherry government noted that the racket poses serious risks to public health and involves organised criminal activity with possible linkages beyond the Union Territory. The CBI is expected to conduct a comprehensive probe, including financial trail analysis, inter-state coordination and identification of the entire network.
The case was registered by the CBI on March 3, 2026 at 3:00 PM with no delay reported. Copies of the Puducherry FIR, government orders and MHA communication have been annexed to the CBI FIR.
This is the latest high-profile case taken over by the CBI in the spurious drugs sector, which continues to pose a major threat to public health across the country.
