Supreme Court Refuses To Grant Gautam Gambhir Relief In COVID Drugs Case, Petition Withdrawn

Senior advocate Kailash Vasudev, appearing for the petitioner, urged the judges to stay the trial court proceedings. But the judges refused.

New Delhi: MP Gautam Gambhir today received a setback from the Supreme Court in connection with the illegal stocking of COVID drugs which took place during the second wave of Coronavirus. The Supreme Court refused to stop the ongoing proceedings against his trust.

The judges said that when people were worried about medicines, it was wrong to do so in the name of help. The court also said that the Gautam Gambhir Foundation should apply to the High Court to make itself a party in the case and keep its point there.

The Delhi High Court, while hearing a PIL, had asked the Drug Controller to conduct a probe against BJP MP Gautam Gambhir and some Aam Aadmi Party MLAs for hoarding and distributing drugs like Fabiflu. After investigation, a trial has now been initiated in the lower court against AAP MLAs Praveen Kumar and Imran Hussain besides Gautam Gambhir under various Drugs and Cosmetics Act sections.

Gambhir reached the Supreme Court seeking relief in the matter but was disappointed. A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah said that the most important thing to consider in this is that the petitioner did not get an opportunity to present his case in the High Court For this, they should apply to the High Court. The Supreme Court does not see the need to interfere in this.

Senior advocate Kailash Vasudev, appearing for the petitioner, urged the judges to stay the trial court proceedings. But the judges refused. They said, "You have to face it. When there was a shortage of essential medicines. People were running here and there. Were paying exorbitant price. Then an organization comes and says that it will distribute medicine. That organization starts collecting medicines by colluding with a hospital. While it has no license to keep and distribute the drug. This cannot be accepted. It is better that you try your legal options in the High Court."