Key Facts

• Arrests: 17 individuals, including hospital staff and oncology department workers
• Seizures: 588 filled vials, 6 empty vials, 7 empty boxes, 3,021 other medicine units, ₹50 lakh cash
• Affected Drugs: Keytruda, Darzalex, Imfinzi, Erbitux, Opdivo, Gazyva, Bavencio, Adcetris
• Modus Operandi: Stolen or diverted authentic vials, active medicine replaced with water or inactive liquid, sold on black market for over ₹1 lakh per vial
• Spread: Operations and raids spanned Delhi-NCR, Navi Mumbai, Hyderabad, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh
• Date of Arrests: July 11-12, 2026
• Legal Provision: Case registered under relevant BNS provisions

Direct Answer

The Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested 17 people for allegedly operating an interstate syndicate involved in procuring, storing, repackaging, and selling counterfeit and illegally diverted anti-cancer medicines worth approximately ₹9 crore.

The racketeers stole or diverted authentic vials from government schemes and private hospitals, replaced the active medicine inside with water or inactive liquid, and sold them on the black market for over ₹1 lakh per vial.

The operation, which spanned Delhi-NCR, Navi Mumbai, Hyderabad, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, led to the recovery of 588 filled vials, 6 empty vials, 3,021 other medicine units, and ₹50 lakh in cash. Key affected drugs include Keytruda, Darzalex, Imfinzi, Erbitux, Opdivo, Gazyva, Bavencio, and Adcetris.

Arrests included hospital staff, a former personal assistant to an oncologist, and individuals across the supply chain. The investigation is continuing to trace beneficiaries and the financial trail.

In this article:

• How the Racket Operated
• The Drugs Affected
• The Arrests
• The Role of Hospital Staff
• The Financial Trail
• The Investigation Continues
• FAQ

By Adv. Shoeb Hakim — Criminal defence, AML, digital forensics, and cybercrime specialist; former General Counsel, Credit Suisse; training police since 1996.

How the Racket Operated

The syndicate operated through three distinct channels.

First, counterfeit drugs were procured from unauthorised sources. Second, medicines were diverted from hospitals meant for cancer patients. Third, government-supplied medicines were diverted from institutions and warehouses.

The racketeers used sophisticated techniques to conceal the fraud. Original cartons and empty boxes were reused for repackaging. Batch numbers and MRP details were removed using acetone to conceal the source. The active medicine inside the vials was replaced with water or inactive liquid, rendering the drugs useless—or worse, harmful—to patients.

The drugs were procured without valid documentation and stored before distribution. The racket spanned multiple states, with operations in Delhi-NCR, Navi Mumbai, Hyderabad, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

The Drugs Affected

The seized medications include some of the most expensive and critical cancer treatments available:

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) — used for various cancers including melanoma, lung cancer, and head and neck cancer.

Darzalex (daratumumab) — used for multiple myeloma.

Imfinzi (durvalumab) — used for lung cancer and other solid tumours.

Erbitux (cetuximab) — used for colorectal cancer and head and neck cancer.

Opdivo (nivolumab) — used for various cancers including melanoma, lung cancer, and kidney cancer.

Gazyva (obinutuzumab) — used for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and follicular lymphoma.

Bavencio (avelumab) — used for Merkel cell carcinoma and other cancers.

Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) — used for Hodgkin lymphoma and other lymphomas.

These drugs are often the last hope for cancer patients and cost lakhs of rupees per cycle of treatment.

The Arrests

The Delhi Police Crime Branch’s Inter-State Cell conducted raids on July 11-12, 2026, in Delhi and Navi Mumbai in coordination with local police. A case was registered on July 12 under relevant BNS provisions.

The Key Players

Abhishek Vaishya allegedly procured and supplied anti-cancer medicines through unauthorised channels.

Shubham Kumar Chaudhary and his brother Suraj were also involved in the racket.

Gagan allegedly procured injections from Satish Kumar for Vaishya.

Mukesh allegedly procured medicines from hospitals and supplied them to pharmacists and brokers. Twelve vials and ₹16.50 lakh were recovered from his vehicle.

Vishwas Tyagi allegedly facilitated invoices without corresponding supplies.

Paramjeet Sheoran allegedly distributed medicines through his medical store.

In Hyderabad

Srinivasulu Kalva, Ramdas Satish Kumar, and Malugari Srinath Reddy were arrested for allegedly receiving or misappropriating medicines meant for patients.

Mayank Garg allegedly procured medicines from hospitals and circulated them.

Deepak alias Ravi, a former personal assistant to an oncologist, allegedly received vials from nursing in-charge Jaswant Sharma. 108 vials and ₹6.50 lakh were recovered from his residence.

The Role of Hospital Staff

A particularly concerning aspect of the case is the involvement of hospital staff and oncology department workers from leading private hospitals. The arrest of a former personal assistant to an oncologist and a nursing in-charge highlights the depth of the infiltration.

This is not a case of external criminals targeting the supply chain. It is a case of insiders—people trusted with the care of cancer patients—abusing their positions for profit.

The Financial Trail

The investigation is continuing to trace beneficiaries and the financial trail. With ₹50 lakh in cash recovered and multiple bank accounts, electronic devices, registers, and diaries seized, investigators are working to map the full extent of the racket.

The involvement of individuals across multiple states—Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh—suggests a well-organised syndicate with established networks.

The Investigation Continues

Police said the investigation is continuing to trace beneficiaries and the financial trail and ascertain the involvement of other people and business entities.

The scale of the racket—₹9 crore in seized medicines, 17 arrests, and operations across multiple states—suggests that this may be only the tip of the iceberg.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

What was the anti-cancer drug racket busted by Delhi Police?

The Delhi Police Crime Branch busted an interstate syndicate involved in procuring, storing, repackaging, and selling counterfeit and illegally diverted anti-cancer medicines worth approximately ₹9 crore.

How many people were arrested?

Seventeen people were arrested, including hospital staff and oncology department workers from leading private hospitals.

What drugs were affected?

High-cost medications seized include Keytruda, Darzalex, Imfinzi, Erbitux, Opdivo, Gazyva, Bavencio, and Adcetris.

How did the racket operate?

The racketeers stole or diverted authentic vials from government schemes and private hospitals, replaced the active medicine inside with water or inactive liquid, and sold them on the black market for over ₹1 lakh per vial.

What was recovered during the raids?

588 filled vials, 6 empty vials, 7 empty boxes, 3,021 other medicine units, ₹50 lakh in cash, electronic devices, registers, diaries, and packaging material.

Who were the key players arrested?

Key arrests included Abhishek Vaishya, Shubham Kumar Chaudhary, Suraj, Gagan, Mukesh, Vishwas Tyagi, Paramjeet Sheoran, and others across Delhi-NCR and Hyderabad.

What role did hospital staff play?

The racket involved hospital staff including a former personal assistant to an oncologist and a nursing in-charge, who allegedly supplied vials to the syndicate.

When were the raids conducted?

The raids were conducted on July 11-12, 2026, in Delhi and Navi Mumbai.

What is the legal basis for the case?

A case was registered on July 12 under relevant BNS provisions.

Is the investigation ongoing?

Yes. The investigation is continuing to trace beneficiaries, the financial trail, and ascertain the involvement of other people and business entities.

Q: How did the counterfeit drug syndicate source their products?

Ans: Through three primary channels: procuring counterfeit drugs from unauthorized sources, diverting medicines meant for cancer patients from private hospitals, and siphoning government-supplied institutional stocks.

Q: What physical dangers did patients face due to this counterfeit drug racket?

Ans: Patients received vials filled with water or inactive liquid instead of active life-saving treatments, rendering therapy ineffective and risking severe infusion reactions or medical collapse.

Q: When were the multi-state police raids executed?

Ans: The raids were conducted on July 11–12, 2026, across Delhi-NCR, Navi Mumbai, and other regional locations.

Q: What legal provisions formed the basis of the police case registration?

Ans: A case was registered on July 12, 2026, under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

KNOWLEDGE CHECK QUIZ

Q: What was the estimated total financial value of the anti-cancer medicines recovered by the Delhi Police Crime Branch?

Ans: Approximately ₹9 crore.

Q: How did the criminal syndicate conceal the source and identity of the diverted or counterfeit medication vials?

Ans: By reusing original boxes, scrubbing batch numbers and MRP details using chemicals such as acetone, and replacing active drug formulas with water or inactive liquid.

Q: Which high-cost cancer immunotherapy and targeted drugs were prominently seized during the operation?

Ans: Keytruda, Darzalex, Imfinzi, Erbitux, Opdivo (Opdyta), Gazyva, Bavencio, and Adcetris.

Q: What specific insider roles within medical facilities were implicated in the syndicate’s operations?

Ans: Hospital staff, nursing in-charges, and a former personal assistant to an oncologist.

By Adv. Shoeb Hakim 
Criminal defence, AML, digital forensics, and cybercrime specialist; former General Counsel, Credit Suisse; training police and judiciary since 1996.

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Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult qualified legal counsel for advice on their specific circumstances.

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Author:
Adv. Shoeb Hakim

Author Bio:
Adv. Shoeb Hakim is a Mumbai-based criminal defence, AML, digital forensics and cybercrime specialist. Former General Counsel at Credit Suisse. Has been training police since 1996. Provides expert commentary on healthcare fraud, pharmaceutical crime, and digital forensics.

Article Publisher:
Adv. Shoeb Hakim

Article Section:
Healthcare Fraud | Pharmaceutical Crime | Criminal Law | Public Health

Article Tags:
Delhi Police, cancer drug racket, counterfeit medicines, Keytruda, Opdivo, healthcare fraud, pharmaceutical crime, hospital staff, oncology, black market, Adv Shoeb Hakim