NEW DELHI: The drug control department has told Delhi High Court that BJP parliamentarian Gautam Gambhir and his foundation should not have illegally bought, stocked and distributed Covid-19 drugs without licence during the second wave of the pandemic.
In a report seeking vacation of the stay on prosecution of the cricketer-turned-politician and his foundation, the department has said there is nothing to suggest that any person approached Gambhir for any assistance. It has also claimed that there is nothing to suggest that the state authorities failed to address any shortage of Covid-19 drugs, questioning the intervention by Gambhir.
The report asserts that Favipiravir tablets and medical oxygen are drugs that cannot be bought for the purpose of stocking or sale or distribution by any person/firm without holding the requisite licence and it was unfortunate that the MP was abusing the process of the court to raise political slogans.
“The petitioners have purchased the said drugs from various licensed dealers, stocked and distributed the same in a manner that is unauthorised and not permitted under law. The petitioners should have obtained a drugs licence for procuring, stocking/distribution of drugs to individual patients on forms 20/21 under Drugs and Cosmetics Rules,” the affidavit filed by the drugs inspector of the drugs control department stated.
It was filed in response to a petition by Gambhir and others against the criminal proceedings under Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The court had stayed the proceedings in September and sought the stand of the department, which had filed the complaint on the court’s directions against the MP; Gautam Gambhir Foundation and its CEO, Aprajita Singh; and his mother and wife, Seema and Natasha Gambhir, both trustees in the foundation; under various provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
In the affidavit, the department has also said 2,349 strips of Favipiravir (Fabiflu/Feravir) were admittedly distributed in a medical camp during the relevant period, and “despite acute shortage of drugs in Delhi, the foundation was found to be in possession of 285 strips of Favipiravir”, which were subsequently handed over to the government authorities.
