Covid drug hoarding: No Supreme Court relief for Delhi BJP MP Gautam Gambhir's foundation

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 26

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the proceedings against Delhi BJP MP Gautam Gambhir’s foundation with regard to alleged illegal procurement and distribution of Covid-19 medicines in the national capital.

“This is not done. We don’t want to say anything, but we also have our ears to the ground,” a Bench led by Justice DY Chandrachud said, refusing to entertain the plea seeking a stay on the prosecution under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

‘Procured medicines Illegally’

Gautam Gambhir Foundation is accused of illegally procuring and distributing crucial medicines during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic when acute shortage of medicines was being reported from across the country.

Earlier, Delhi’s drug controller had told the HC that Gautam Gambhir Foundation has been found guilty of unauthorisedly stocking, procuring and distributing FabiFlu medicine to Covid patients. The SC noted that people were running around for medicines and suddenly a trust comes and says we will give you medicines.

As the Bench asked senior advocate Kailash Vasudev, representing the foundation, to approach the Delhi High Court, he chose to withdraw the petition. The high court had deprecated the manner in which a huge quantity of the drug was procured, saying genuine patients who needed the medicine during the crisis could not get it as the bulk stock was taken away by Gambhir’s foundation.

AAP MLA Praveen Kumar was also found guilty of similar offences under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and action will also be taken against him, the high court was informed during hearing of a PIL seeking registration of an FIR on the allegations that politicians were able to procure and distribute in huge quantities the Covid-19 medicines even as many patients waited for life saving drugs.