Dehradun, July 20 -- In a significant breakthrough, the Special Task Force (STF) has apprehended the mastermind of a vast counterfeit pharmaceutical racket, bringing the total number of accused in custody to four. The syndicate, which operates across multiple North Indian states, was reportedly engaged in the manufacture and distribution of spurious medicines falsely branded under the names of reputed pharmaceutical companies. The STF's investigation has further revealed the racket's connections with wider organised criminal networks, raising serious concerns over the unchecked proliferation of substandard medicines in the region.

The racket came to light on 1 June when the STF seised a substantial cache of fake outer boxes, labels, and ...