AGRA – In a dramatic operation, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) has arrested a man who ran a major counterfeit drug racket and was caught red-handed attempting to bribe officials with Rs 1 crore. The accused, Himanshu Agarwal, owner of the “Hey Maa Medico Agency,” was involved in the illicit trade of fake medicines from major pharmaceutical brands.
The operation began when a joint team from the UP STF and the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) raided Agarwal’s godown in Agra. The raid uncovered a staggering cache of counterfeit drugs from well-known brands like Zydus, Glenmark, and Sun Pharma. The seized medicines had an estimated street value of Rs 3.32 crore.
The situation took a sharp turn when the police confronted Agarwal. In a brazen attempt to evade arrest, he allegedly offered a bribe of Rs 1 crore to the officers on the spot. Inspector Yatindra Sharma and Assistant Drug Commissioner Naresh Mohan Deepak, acting on the bribe offer, set up a trap. Agarwal was subsequently caught in the act of handing over the bribe, and the police had to use money-counting machines to tally the large amount of cash.
A Deceptive Business and Expanding Investigation
Agarwal’s operation, which deceptively used the name “Hey Maa” (O Mother), was reportedly a large-scale network for distributing fake medicines, putting public health at severe risk. The UP STF is now expanding its investigation, with authorities suspecting potential hawala (illegal money transfer) links. The Income Tax Department has also joined the probe to investigate Agarwal’s undeclared assets.
Agarwal has been sent to 14 days of judicial custody by the Meerut Court. He faces charges under both the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. This bust marks a significant blow to the counterfeit drug trade in the region and serves as a strong warning against such criminal activities.
