Malik accuses former BJP MLA of distributing Remdesivir illegally

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How could BJP leader Shirish Chaudhari store around 20,000 vials of the exportable Remdesivir stock of Bruck Pharma and distribute them to people? They don't have a licence to do so

–Nawab Malik, NCP minister

The ongoing controversy over the stockpiling of Remdesivir amid rising demand on Tuesday took a new turn when the NCP Minister Nawab Malik alleged that former BJP MLA from north Maharashtra Shirish Chaudhari illegally distributed to people Remdesivir vials which had not been exported due to a ban on it. However, the BJP dismissed the allegation is baseless.

Malik reminded that the Centre has banned the export of Remdesivir and one of its manufacturers is Bruck Pharma. “How could BJP leader Shirish Chaudhari store around 20,000 vials of the exportable Remdesivir stock of Bruck Pharma and distribute them to people? They don't have a licence to do so,” he said.

Malik said Chaudhari had allegedly distributed and sold the Remdesivir stock in black markets in Nandurbar, Dhule and Jalgaon districts. To substantiate his charges, Malik presented some photos and video. “Some videos have surfaced in which Chaudhari is allegedly seen distributing Remdesivir vials in Nandurbar from his Hira Executive Hotel. We believe Chaudhari sold around 20,000 vials, which were produced by Bruck Pharma, in the black market on April 8 and 12,” Malik alleged.

He said NCP legislator from Amalner in Jalgaon district Anil Patil had complained against Chaudhari (who contested the 2019 Assembly poll against Patil) in a letter to the party. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner in a letter has asked Nandurbar collector to conduct a probe into Chaudhari's alleged connection with the distribution of Remdesivir vials without a proper licence, Malik said.

“What licence was obtained by Chaudhari from Maharashtra or the Union Territory of Daman?” he asked.