Prosecution Launched Against Gambhir, AAP MLAs For Stocking Oxygen & COVID Drugs: Drug Controller Dept Tells Delhi HC

Sales licenses of all dealers/retailers who sold Favipiravir Tablets and Medical Oxygen to the Gautam Gambhir Foundation have been suspended for the period of 10 days.

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New Delhi: Delhi's Drug Controller Department informed the Delhi High Court that it has initiated proceedings against Bharatiya Janata Party leader and MP Gautam Gambhir's foundation, and Aam Aadmi Party legislators Praveen Kumar and Imran Hussain for unauthorised stocking of medical drugs and oxygens.

In an affidavit filed before the Delhi High Court, Drug Controller Department stated that sales licenses of all dealers/retailers who sold Favipiravir Tablets and Medical Oxygen to the Gautam Gambhir Foundation for conducting medical camp and free medical oxygen distribution activity have been suspended for the period of 10 days for contravening the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.

The dealers/retailers were given adequate opportunity to submit their explanations regarding the sale.

Based on the inquiries made by the probe team, a prosecution in the Court of Law was launched against Gautam Gambhir Foundation, its trustees, and CEO on July 8, 2021, for contravening the provisions of Section 18(c) read with Section 27(b) (ii) of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940, the affidavit informed.

According to it, the prosecution has been launched against AAP MLAs Praveen Kumar and Imran Hussain as well.

The Drug Controller Department informed that AAP MLA Imran Hussain was found to have stocked and distributed medical oxygen without holding a requisite license under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

The affidavit was filed as per the Delhi High Court's directive issued on June 3, wherein the department was asked to take action against such persons and file another status report.

The Assistant Drug Controller had assured the Delhi HC bench that action will be taken against the people allegedly involved in such offences.

The plea in Delhi HC seeks an inquiry into the distribution of medicines by Gautam Gambhir and another application seeks inquiry against AAP MLA Praveen Kumar for distributing oxygen cylinders.

One of the petitioners, Deepak Singh, contended that Gambhir was distributing medicine when chemists were running out of stock and asked for a strong warning to be given against chemists and politicians.

The petitioner alleged the involvement of medical mafia-politicians nexus indulging in black-marketing of COVID-19 medicines. Another application was filed by Vedansh Anand through advocate Amit Tiwari sought inquiry against AAP MLAs for distributing oxygen cylinders.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on July 29.