Coronavirus: Pharmacies Raided In Bengaluru For Allegedly Selling Hand Sanitisers, Masks At Higher Rates

Several shops and pharmacies in Bengaluru were raided by the Central Crime Branch for allegedly selling hand sanitisers and masks at extremely high rates as the counrty deals with panic and stress over the Novel Coronavirus outbreak, Deccan Herald reported.

“On complaints from the public, we raided about 210 drug shops across the city on Saturday and stocks seized for selling masks and sanitizers at twice or thrice the retail price,” Bengaluru crime branch deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Kuldeep Jain told.

The police also booked cases against many pharmacies for allegedly selling the essential medical items 2-3 times over the maximum retail price (MRP).

“Though we have not come across any fake unit making them, in the city or state, we have seized about 250 bottles of sanitisers, suspected to be fake from a storage place. We sent the bottles to lab for tests to check if they are genuine for use,” said Jain.

"Five shops across the city were also shut for selling the sanitizer liquid bottles illegally and at high cost, he added.

A special drive has been initiated across the city to check and regulate supply of masks and sanitizers to retailers, which have been selling them at higher rates due to their shortage amid rising demand.

(With inputs from IANS)