In a significant development in the sprawling codeine-based cough syrup smuggling racket, the father of the absconding syndicate kingpin has been sent to jail as police intensify their crackdown across Uttar Pradesh. The investigation has now ensnared a staggering 118 medicine firms allegedly involved in the illicit trade through fraudulent billing practices.
Kingpin's Father Sent to Judicial Custody
Bhola Jaiswal, the father of fugitive syndicate mastermind Shubham Jaiswal, was produced before a local court in Sonbhadra district on Thursday. After the completion of his two-day transit remand, the court ordered him to be placed in 14-day judicial custody. Sonbhadra Superintendent of Police Abhishek Verma confirmed the details, stating that police will now seek his remand for further interrogation.
Bhola Jaiswal's arrest marks a crucial breakthrough. He was apprehended at the Kolkata airport on November 29 while attempting to board a flight to Thailand. He was subsequently brought to Sonbhadra on a transit remand on December 2. During preliminary questioning, Bhola reportedly shifted blame onto his son, Shubham, for orchestrating the fake billing of codeine syrup consignments. He also implicated their chartered accountant, Vishnu Agrawal, for managing the entire monetary transactions of the operation.
Police Expand Net, Summon Chartered Accountant
The Sonbhadra police are not stopping at Bhola's arrest. SP Abhishek Verma revealed that a notice is being issued to summon the chartered accountant of both Shubham and Bhola Jaiswal for thorough questioning. This move aims to unravel the complex financial web that facilitated the smuggling syndicate's operations.
Simultaneously, the roots of the syndicate have been traced to Azamgarh and adjoining districts. Acting on a complaint from the Azamgarh drug inspector, the Didarganj police registered an FIR against four firms. Azamgarh ASP (Rural) Chirag Jain detailed that the firms include two from Azamgarh, one from Jaunpur, and one from Basti.
The complaint alleges that a medical shop named AS Pharma in Bangaon illegally traded codeine-containing Phensedyl syrup worth Rs 2.5 lakh with these four companies. The owner of the implicated firm is currently absconding, and further investigations are underway.
State-Wide Crackdown Reaches 118 Firms
The scale of the racket is massive and continues to grow. By Wednesday evening, the total number of medicine firms booked in connection with the syndicate across Uttar Pradesh had already reached 118. The district-wise breakdown of FIRs includes:
- Varanasi: 38 firms
- Jaunpur: 16 firms
- Kanpur Nagar: 8 firms
- Ghazipur: 6 firms
- Lakhimpur Kheri: 4 firms
- Lucknow: 3 firms
- 43 firms across other districts including Sultanpur, Chandauli, and Rae Bareli
This series of actions originated in Sonbhadra and gained momentum with subsequent recoveries and the booking of individuals and firms linked to the syndicate in cities like Ghaziabad and Ranchi in October. The ongoing probe signifies a determined effort by authorities to dismantle the entire network involved in the illegal diversion and smuggling of codeine-laced cough syrup.
