HYDERABAD: Seven persons from Hyderabad and one person from Delhi were arrested from various parts of the city by Hyderabad police for allegedly illegally selling antiviral medicines, namely Remdesivir, Actemra (Tocilizumab) and Fabiflu tablets, which have been extensively used while treating Covid-19 patients, to the needy individuals\ at exorbitant rates.
Hyderabad police after questioning the accused found that the MRP price of Covifer (Remdesivir) is Rs 5,400 but the accused from last several days allegedly sold each unit for Rs 30,000- Rs 40,000. Similarly, Actemra (Tocilizumab)-400mg MRP is Rs 40,000 and in black market its cost is Rs 90,000 to Rs 1 lakh per unit. Actemra (Tocilizumab)-80mg original cost is Rs 8,000 but they accused sold it for Rs 25,000. TabiFlu MRP is Rs 3,500 and it has been sold for Rs 4,000- 5,000 per strip.
Commissioner of police, Hyderabad, Anjani Kumar during a press conference said that the sale of these medicines to individuals are prohibited as they are prescribed only for sale to hospitals or institutions.
The arrested accused are: K Venkata Subramanyam, who does business in Secunderabad; Santosh Kumar, a businessman; Mohammed Shaker, who has a medical agency; K Kishore, a medical distributor; Rahul Agarwal, a businessman in Narayanaguda; Gagan Khurana, a Delhi based commission agent; Saif Ali Mohammed, who has a medical agency and Firdous Mohammed, an employee in a pharma distribution company.
Venkata Subramanyam, who is a managing director of a company and operates from Anand Bagh in Malkajgiri claimed that he purchased some of the drugs from a prominent company located at Sangareddy.
Later he and other accused through their network from last one month sold these antivirus medicines to needy persons.
Surprisingly, the accused Gagan brought Actemra (Tocilizumab) to Hyderabad from Delhi via flight. These medicines were kept in ice packs while they were brought to Hyderabad and handed over to the members of the racket.
Hyderabad police after questioning the accused found that the MRP price of Covifer (Remdesivir) is Rs 5,400 but the accused from last several days allegedly sold each unit for Rs 30,000- Rs 40,000. Similarly, Actemra (Tocilizumab)-400mg MRP is Rs 40,000 and in black market its cost is Rs 90,000 to Rs 1 lakh per unit. Actemra (Tocilizumab)-80mg original cost is Rs 8,000 but they accused sold it for Rs 25,000. TabiFlu MRP is Rs 3,500 and it has been sold for Rs 4,000- 5,000 per strip.
Commissioner of police, Hyderabad, Anjani Kumar during a press conference said that the sale of these medicines to individuals are prohibited as they are prescribed only for sale to hospitals or institutions.
The arrested accused are: K Venkata Subramanyam, who does business in Secunderabad; Santosh Kumar, a businessman; Mohammed Shaker, who has a medical agency; K Kishore, a medical distributor; Rahul Agarwal, a businessman in Narayanaguda; Gagan Khurana, a Delhi based commission agent; Saif Ali Mohammed, who has a medical agency and Firdous Mohammed, an employee in a pharma distribution company.
Venkata Subramanyam, who is a managing director of a company and operates from Anand Bagh in Malkajgiri claimed that he purchased some of the drugs from a prominent company located at Sangareddy.
Later he and other accused through their network from last one month sold these antivirus medicines to needy persons.
Surprisingly, the accused Gagan brought Actemra (Tocilizumab) to Hyderabad from Delhi via flight. These medicines were kept in ice packs while they were brought to Hyderabad and handed over to the members of the racket.
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