Police have detained two men in connection with the seizure of fake hand sanitizers. (Representative image) | Photo Credit: PTI

Key Highlights The value of the seized sanitizers is said to be around Rs 56 lakh The raid on two factories was conducted on March 20 in the city

Bengaluru: The Bengaluru police have launched a crackdown against profiteering from coronavirus pandemic. The Bengaluru Crime Branch's EconomiC offences Wing has raided two factories and seized a large number of fake hand sanitizers.

With the increase in the use of soaps and hand sanitizers amid the viral spread of coronavirus, there has been a surge in the demand of these sanitizers. And the fraudsters have found a new way to make quick money from the tragedy.

According to a report in the news agency ANI, the value of the seized sanitizers is said to be around Rs 56 lakh.

The raid on the factories was conducted on March 20 in the city. Police have detained two men in connection with the seizure. A case has been filed and a probe is underway.

In a similar incident on March 18, Telangana Police and drug authorities raided a manufacturing unit outside Hyderabad producing fake hand sanitizers. Over 25,000 bottles and 40 lakh worth of raw materials were seized from Telangana racketeers. Earlier this week, the Maharashtra government ordered a crackdown on the manufacture of fake products.

On Saturday, Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan tweeted that the price of 200 ml bottle of hand sanitizer cannot be sold for more than Rs 100. The move came to prevent vendors and firms from overcharging amid panic-buying due to the coronavirus threat.

The coronavirus cases continue to rise in India with the number going up to 283 on Saturday. The virus has also led to four deaths.