Pharma distributors, healthcare providers and path labs in Karnataka have been raided by the income tax officers  here last evening. These include Milaan IV Centre led by Dr. Kamini Rao, Clumax diagnostics and a few pharma distributors. However the names of the pharma distributors are not disclosed, but the investigation came in following suspicion of corrupt practices. The distributors are assumed to collude with pharma companies to persuade them in prescribing drugs from their outlets.

The raids are expected to go on to ascertain the financial records of these healthcare providers and pharma distributors. In addition to the premises of medical practitioners, diagnostic centres and IVF clinics were also on the radar of raids.

The IT officials are closely scrutinising the payments that are unaccounted by the IVF centre as they are known to charge hefty fees for procedures. Milaan which is the erstwhile Bangalore Assisted Conception Centre   has five centres in Bengaluru and one each at New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Chandigarh.  Its officials refused to comment.

Clumax diagnostics teamed up with Medall a Chennai based pathology major to expand across Bengaluru and  Tamil Nadu.

In 2016, a similar raid was conducted by the income tax officials on hospitals in Karnataka to inspect their financial records.