Two arrested in Varanasi for illegally selling codeine-based cough syrup
Varanasi (UP) (PTI): Police in Varanasi have arrested two men for the illegal sale of codeine-based cough syrup, officials said on Monday.
The arrested duo has been identified as Vishal Kumar Jaiswal and Badal Arya, DCP (Kashi zone) Gaurav Banswal said.
The probe revealed that Shubham Jaiswal of Shaili Traders obtained a drug licence using forged documents and then used it to purchase and sell large quantities of codeine-based cough syrup through various medical firms for recreational drug use.
Banswal said that during interrogation, Vishal Kumar and Arya revealed that they met Amit Jaiswal, the proprietor of Shrihari Pharma and Surgical Agency, and Shubham Jaiswal through DSA Pharma, Varanasi.
During the meeting, the accused were lured with the promise of making quick money to join the cough syrup business, which they agreed to.
The Jaiswals then helped the duo obtain a drug licence by preparing forged documents, the DCP said.
The accused said Shubham Jaiswal, through Divesh Jaiswal, paid them a monthly commission ranging between Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000.
The money received in their accounts was quickly transferred to Shaili Traders' account. Divesh Jaiswal had complete access to their bank account details. He would ask for the OTP when transferring the money.
They conducted business worth approximately Rs 7 crore within a year, the officer said.
Vishal Kumar’s firm Hari Om Pharma purchased 4,18,000 bottles of cough syrup from Shaili Traders, which were then sold for over Rs 5 crore, Banswal said.
Arya's firm Kal Bhairav Traders purchased 1,23,000 bottles of cough syrup from Shaili Traders, which were then sold for over Rs 2 crore, he added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Malayali expats express safety concerns in Kerala after prominent NRI businessman’s abduction
Jeddah: The abduction of expatriate businessman V. P. Muhammed Ali has caused concern among the Malayali community in Jeddah, where he has been a prominent figure in business and social circles for nearly five decades.
Muhammed Ali, originally from Poongode in Kalikavu, Malappuram, runs several business ventures in Saudi Arabia, other Gulf countries and Kerala. He is the Managing Director of Jeddah National Hospital and the Rayan Medical Group. News of his abduction has unsettled Gulf-based Malayalis, many of whom regard him as an important supporter of the expatriate community.
The incident occurred on Saturday around 6.30 pm while he was travelling to Kochi Nedumbassery Airport to return to Jeddah. As his vehicle reached Arangottukara on the Malappuram–Palakkad district border, an Innova car reportedly intercepted his vehicle. A group of unidentified men allegedly threatened him at gunpoint, forced him out and pushed him into their car before speeding away.
He was taken to a house in Kothakurissi in Palakkad district and kept captive. In the early hours of Sunday, he managed to escape while his abductors were asleep and reached a nearby mosque for help. Local residents took him to a hospital, where he is undergoing treatment for injuries, including facial wounds.
The motive for the abduction is not yet clear. Muhammed Ali is involved in a case pending before the Supreme Court related to a college in the Nilgiris, and his relatives suspect that individuals connected to the dispute may be behind the kidnapping. Police have intensified the investigation, but the lack of arrests has led to frustration among expatriates.
Malayalis in Jeddah say the incident raises broader concerns about safety in Kerala, particularly for businesspersons and investors. They have urged authorities to ensure the immediate arrest of those responsible and take strong legal action in the case.
