ED raids five premises in Bengaluru over fake drugs racket; Rs 9 lakh frozen

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided five premises in Bengaluru on Monday in connection with a fake drugs racket. The raids were conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and resulted in the freezing of Rs 9 lakh in a bank account linked to a key suspect. The ED also arrested Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan in a money laundering case. The investigation revealed that R Prashanth, alleged to be the kingpin, arranged a farmhouse near Bidadi to manufacture and repackage medicines without a valid drug license. The ED seized digital devices and records during the searches.