Doctor accused of using banned drugs acquitted

Jotirmay Thapliyal

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 18

The court of Additional District Judge Vinod Kumar in Dehradun acquitted Dr RK Gupta, who ran a clinic in Rishikesh and was allegedly charged of using prohibited drugs as part of his medicines for treating epilepsy patients.

The decision comes in reversal to a CJM court decision in Dehradun that sentenced him to five years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 20,000 more than a month ago. Dr Gupta subsequently filed an appeal against the decision in the court of Additional District Judge Vinod Kumar in Dehradun following which he was acquitted.

According to defence counsel, after hearing the arguments, the court of Additional District Judge Vinod Kumar, who is also special judge Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act cases, found the claims made by witness against Gupta were inappropriate and thus acquitted him. However, on the other side, reacting to the judgment, the prosecution held that they would study the judgment and go for an appeal in the High Court.

Dr Gupta ran Neeraj Clinic in Rishikesh and claimed to treat epilepsy that attracted a large number of patients from across the country. In 2004, an NRI woman from Canada complained about the content of medicines being provided by Dr Gupta to his patients, alleging that it included prohibited drugs.

Following this, Dr Gupta was arrested on August 3, 2004, and brought to Rishikesh from where he managed to flee with the help of his supporters. Subsequently, he was arrested on August 14 from Dehradun. A case was registered against him for allegedly administering psychotropic substances to his patients.

Further, the court of Additional District Judge also acquitted 14 others, who were allegedly accused for helping Dr Gupta flee from police custody in 2004. A team of the IMA in 2000 had declared him a quack.