Dharamshala | June 23, 2025 — The pharma-underworld nexus in Himachal Pradesh just took a serious hit. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a multi-state crackdown Monday morning, raiding the residence, office, and linked properties of Nishant Sareen, an Assistant Drug Controller posted in Dharamshala.
Teams simultaneously searched locations across Himachal, Haryana, and Punjab, in connection with a wide-ranging probe into bribery, extortion, and money laundering.
What’s the case about?
ED sources allege that Sareen was running a "pay-for-clearance" network, where pharmaceutical companies paid hefty bribes in exchange for swift drug approvals, illegal licenses, and protection from inspections.
The scale of corruption points to more than just a few bad deals — it's being called a systemic racket with possible political backing.
What the ED is probing:
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Large-scale extortion from pharma firms
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Drug licenses allegedly issued in blatant violation of rules
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Money laundering using front companies
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Deep political links and protection
A tainted past, now back in spotlight
Sareen is not new to controversy. He was arrested in 2019 in a bribery case, but reinstated in 2024 under questionable circumstances. His return to service had already raised eyebrows — now it’s blowing up as a full-blown scandal.
Bigger fish involved?
ED insiders believe that this is just the tip of the iceberg. The agency is now tracking financial trails, call records, and property deals that may lead to higher-ups — including bureaucrats and politicians.
Why this matters:
This isn’t just a rogue officer. The case has exposed how deeply corruption may be rooted in Himachal’s booming pharma industry, which supplies medicines across India.
The ED is expected to summon several pharma executives and bureaucrats for questioning in the coming days. More arrests could follow.
MOREOVER, ED Raids Crack Down on Interstate Drug Syndicate Operating Across 6 States
Jalandhar Enforcement Directorate (ED) has unearthed a major inter-state drug trafficking racket with sweeping search operations carried out on June 17, 2025, across 16 locations in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.
The raids were conducted at the offices and residential premises associated with several pharmaceutical firms including M/s Biogenetic Drugs Pvt. Ltd., M/s CB Healthcare, M/s Smilax Pharmachem Drug Industries, M/s Aster Pharma, and M/s Soul Health Care (I) Pvt. Ltd., as well as individuals such as Alex Paliwal and others.
The ED crackdown comes in connection with an alleged network involved in the illegal supply of psychotropic and intoxicating substances such as Tramadol and Alprazolam — both tightly regulated under narcotics laws due to their high potential for abuse.
During the searches, the ED recovered a trove of incriminating evidence including financial records, digital devices, and other material indicating violations related to money laundering and the illegal pharma trade.
The agency is now probing the money trail and possible foreign linkages, hinting at a larger nexus involving pharma firms acting as a front for the distribution of drugs.
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