Delhi 'Fake Medicines' Case: Government Refers Matter To Home Ministry For CBI Probe

The Delhi Government's vigilance department has referred the matter of spurious drugs to the Home Ministry for a CBI inquiry.

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The Delhi Government's vigilance department on Thursday referred the matter of spurious drugs to the Home Ministry for a CBI inquiry, an official statement issued by the department said. 

Delhi Government's vigilance department refers the Spurious Drugs issue matter to the Home Ministry for CBI inquiry pic.twitter.com/tNEXZcE2lb

— ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2023

Based on the Delhi Vigilance Department's report on allegedly forged drugs found in government hospitals, Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena had previously written to the CBI requesting an investigation into the case. According to the report, the vigilance department launched an investigation based on samples of substandard drugs collected from prominent Delhi government hospitals such as LNJP, DDU, and IHBAS. The vigilance department determined that the drugs were of poor quality.

After the vigilance department asked to withdraw certain medicines from the stock because they were found to be "not of standard quality," Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj on Sunday asked the health department to make alternative arrangements immediately to avoid a drug shortage in government health facilities in the Capital.

Amlodipine (for high blood pressure), levetiracetam (for seizures), pantoprazole (for excess stomach acid), cephalexin (antibiotic), and dexamethasone (steroid) are among the five drugs ordered to be removed from the supply.

YVVJ Rajashekhar, special secretary for vigilance, wrote to the health secretary on Sunday, requesting that all "substandard" drugs be removed from government health facilities and that documents detailing the manufacturers and suppliers of these bogus drugs be seized.

Bharadwaj said on Saturday that the LG inquiry into fake drugs was ordered selectively, with no action taken against "sub-standard consumables" purchased from central government portals.

The development came a day after LG VK Saxena and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government clashed over the alleged supply of substandard drugs and consumables to government hospitals, for which Saxena ordered a CBI investigation.