Codeine Syrup Trafficking Case: In a major development in the codeine-based cough syrup trafficking case, the family members of alleged kingpin Shubham Jaiswal have been directed to submit details of their properties before the court. Notices have been issued to Shubham’s father Bhola Prasad, his wife, sister, and mother, asking them to disclose assets worth nearly ₹38 crore registered in their names.
Investigators suspect that these properties were acquired using money earned from the illegal trafficking of codeine-laced cough syrup. All family members were served notices on December 24 and have been instructed to present complete property details before Fast Track Court–14 (NDPS) on January 2. The assets were identified during the investigation of a case registered at Kotwali police station.
According to police records, Bhola Prasad owns a house worth around ₹23 crore in Bhelupur. Another property valued at ₹8 crore in Sigra is registered in the name of his wife, Sharda. Additionally, land and other immovable properties worth nearly ₹7 crore have been identified in the names of Bhola Prasad’s daughter Pragati and daughter-in-law Vaishali Pursnani in Pindra and other locations.
Investigators revealed that Shubham Jaiswal and his father began rapidly acquiring properties soon after allegedly entering the cough syrup smuggling business. Notices were issued under Section 107 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). If the family fails to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the source of income or gives unclear responses about the immovable assets, the court may initiate confiscation proceedings.
Bhola Prasad to Be Produced in Court on B-Warrant
Bhola Prasad will be produced before the court in Varanasi on January 2 on a B-warrant. He is being brought for remand in connection with the Kotwali case. Earlier, Kotwali police had moved an application seeking his production before the Sonbhadra court, which granted January 2 as the date.
Money Trail Linked to Fake Firms in Prayagraj and Pratapgarh
The investigation has also uncovered a wider network involving bogus firms. About three weeks ago, the Drug Department conducted a raid at PD Pharma, owned by Vishnu Pandey, in Tisriyan, Parshurampur (Sarnath). During the inspection, neither cough syrup stock nor valid documents were found on the premises.
Records show that Vishnu Pandey had purchased 89,600 bottles (100 ml each) of codeine-based cough syrup between September 21 and October 8 from M/s Healthcare, Prayagraj. In this case, Vishnu Pandey and Lokesh Agrawal, a resident of Mohini Kunj, Mahmurganj, were arrested last Saturday.
Further police scrutiny revealed that PD Pharma was linked to at least 39 other bogus firms operating in Prayagraj, Pratapgarh, and Bhadohi. Funds were transferred from the current accounts of these firms into PD Pharma’s account, and from there, the money was routed to firms based in Bihar and Jharkhand. Police are now investigating these firms as well, as the probe into the sprawling drug trafficking and money laundering network continues.
