Ahmedabad Rural Police bust blood plasma adulteration racket, 4 arrested

The Ahmedabad Rural Police's Special Operations Group (SOG) has uncovered an alleged blood plasma adulteration racket and arrested four persons, including the alleged mastermind from Maharashtra, in a case investigators say could have posed a serious threat to public health.

According to police, the accused allegedly replaced genuine blood plasma collected for pharmaceutical manufacturing with adulterated plasma before consignments were delivered to a pharmaceutical company in the Changodar area.

Police seized 1,140 blood plasma units, equipment allegedly used in the operation and a transport vehicle. The total value of the seized material is estimated at ₹12.06 lakh.

Investigation launched after intelligence input

According to Ahmedabad Rural Police officials, the probe began after the SOG received specific intelligence about Dineshbhai Umabhai Chaudhary, who had previously worked as a blood plasma collection executive with pharmaceutical companies.

Investigators alleged that Chaudhary used his industry experience to tamper with blood plasma consignments for financial gain. Acting on the information, police placed the suspect under surveillance in the Changodar police station limits before registering a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to cheating, forgery and other offences.

Given the seriousness of the allegations, the investigation was subsequently transferred to the SOG, which traced and arrested the alleged kingpin from Maharashtra.

How the alleged blood plasma racket operated

According to investigators, Chaudhary allegedly developed a systematic method of replacing genuine blood plasma units with adulterated plasma before the consignments reached the pharmaceutical company.

Police alleged that two co-accused, Jitendrabhai Baldevbhai Solanki, the driver of a blood plasma collection vehicle, and Rafiqbhai Salambhai, the co-driver, were responsible for transporting plasma collected from different districts of Maharashtra.

Whenever the vehicle returned with genuine blood plasma units, the driver and co-driver allegedly informed Chaudhary in advance. Instead of delivering the consignment directly to the pharmaceutical company, they allegedly diverted the vehicle to Chaudhary's residence.

Investigators alleged that genuine, high-quality plasma bags were removed from the consignment and replaced with adulterated plasma units prepared beforehand. The substituted bags were then delivered to the company, while the original plasma was allegedly retained for illegal financial gain.

Police believe the adulterated plasma bags were prepared in a way that maintained the appearance and quantity of the original consignments, making detection difficult during routine handling.

Four accused arrested

The four accused arrested in the case have been identified as:

Dineshbhai Umabhai Chaudhary, a resident of Malotra village in Banaskantha district and the alleged mastermind;

Mohan Dajiba Gaikwad, a resident of Dudhala village in Washim district, Maharashtra;

Rafiqbhai Salambhai, originally from Devdathal in Bavla, Ahmedabad district, and currently residing in Dholka; and

Jitendrabhai Baldevbhai Solanki, a resident of Kadipur village in Dholka taluka of Ahmedabad district.

Material seized by police

During the operation, police seized:

1,140 blood plasma units valued at approximately ₹11 lakh;

One deep freezer;

Three chemical bottles;

One sealing machine;

Thirty-four empty plasma bags; and

A Mahindra Bolero pick-up vehicle allegedly used in the operation.

The total value of the seized material is estimated at ₹12.06 lakh.

Probe focuses on pharmaceutical supply chain impact

Senior police officials said investigators are now examining whether adulterated plasma had already entered the pharmaceutical supply chain and whether additional individuals were involved in the alleged racket.

The investigation will also determine whether similar incidents occurred in previous consignments and whether the accused had been operating the network for an extended period.

Further investigation is underway.