Prime accused in illegal blood trade racket surrenders

The prime accused in spurious blood trade racket surrendered before a local court in Lucknow, official sources said today.

The prime accused in spurious blood trade racket surrendered before a local court in Lucknow, official sources said on Thursday.

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Jitendra Singh alias Pintu, who hails from Sitapur and is the kingpin of the racket that was busted last week, surrendered in the court of a city magistrate on Wednesday, the sources said.

He has been sent to judicial custody till September 8, they said, adding that police have filed an application before the court seeking his remand, which will come up for hearing today.

On August 22, police arrested six people from Thakurganj area for their alleged involvement in the racket and invoked the stringent National Security Act (NSA) against them.

Around 60-70 pouches containing blood, along with plasma, empty pouches, syringes, fake stamp seals, stickers and authority letter of Chattrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University were recovered from their possession.

During their interrogation, Pintu's name cropped up as the kingpin of the 14-member gang operating in the state capital. He was on the run since then, sources said.

Meanwhile, in a bid to check sale of spurious drugs and blood, several teams of Food and Drug Authority carried out raids in different parts of the state and lodged FIR against seven persons, Commissioner FDA Lalit Verma said.