AURANGABAD: A special narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances cell has made an important arrest in Aurangabad, catching a pharmacist while he was allegedly selling scheduled prescription drugs without prescription to a criminal on record. Authorities said this is the first case in the region, wherein a pharmacist has been arrested red-handed while selling the scheduled drugs without prescription to a suspect on police record. Police commissioner Nikhil Gupta told TOI, "Our special NDPS cell nabbed the pharmacist - identified as Shivprasad Changhate - red-hand while selling scheduled drugs to Tarasingh Tak, a criminal on police record who was released on bail last week." He said the third suspect has been identified as Mahesh Unawne, who is an employee of a pharmaceutical agency. Police claimed that he was the key person who obtained the scheduled drugs from agencies and allegedly sold them illegally to the pharmacist. The pharmacist was allegedly selling the drugs without prescriptions to addicts and drug peddlers, the police said. The special cell, led by assistant inspector Syed Mohsin, has seized 2,048 pills belonging to the category of tranquilisers from the suspects. In addition, 3,712 aphrodisiacs tablets, 228 MTP kits and some other articles including mobile phones and two-wheeler were seized. API Syed said, "On learning about Tak's release, we kept an eye on him and found him to be sourcing pills misused by addicts. A team followed him for three consecutive days and found him purchasing items from one particular pharmacy store. Accordingly, a trap was set and Tak was arrested along with the pharmacist." Police said the preliminary probe has revealed that a strip of scheduled drugs seized from the suspect has a MRP of Rs 36 and the allegedly sold one strip without prescription for Rs 500. Senior officers said Aurangabad city police, along with the food and drug administration, have decided to move a proposal for an audit of the pharmacy and the pharmaceutical agency. SOURCE: THE TIMES OF INDIA
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