Gambhir’s foundation guilty of hoarding Fabiflu: DCGI
‘AAP MLA Praveen Kumar guilty of similar offences’
BJP MP Gautam Gambhir’s foundation was found guilty of unauthorised stocking, procurement, and distribution of the medicine Fabiflu to Covid-19 patients, Delhi’s drug control body informed the Delhi high court on Thursday.
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) also found Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Praveen Kumar guilty of similar offences under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
The Drug Controller informed the Delhi high court that action will be taken against Mr Gambhir’s foundation, drug dealers, as well as in other such cases which were brought to its notice.
The DCGI was submitting a fresh report to the Delhi HC after the body was reprimanded for previously giving a clean chit to Mr Gambhir’s foundation. The Delhi HC asked the DCGI to file a status report on further progress in the case within six weeks.
The matter has been listed for hearing on July 29. The DCGI said action would be taken without delay.
On May 31, the Delhi high court had said it cannot be taken for a ride as it pulled up the Drug Controller for not properly probing the issues involved with procurement of huge quantities of Fabiflu, used in the treatment of Covid-19 patients, by BJP MP Gautam Gambhir.
Rejecting the status report filed by the Drug Controller, the court said its confidence in the Drug Controller was shaken.
The report was filed in connection with its probe into the procurement of the medicine by cricketerturned-politician Gautam Gambhir.
The court noted it was well-known that the essential Covid drug was in short supply. However, Mr Gambhir purchased several strips of the medicine while the others, who needed it, could not get it, the bench added.
The high court did not mince words in criticising the recent statement by Mr Gambhir stating that he will continue to do such work.
The bench said, “We have already said it is a malpractice. This tendency of people, trying to take advantage and then trying to appear as saviours when they themselves created the problem, has to be denounced.”
The court also examined the report in connection with the allegations against AAP MLAs Priti Tomar and Praveen Kumar for hoarding medical oxygen.