Gautam Gambhir guilty of hoarding unauthorised drugs: DCGI tells Delhi HC, assures action

Pulling up BJP MP Gautam Gambhir and AAP MLA Praveen Kumar over alleged 'hoarding of COVID medicines', the Drug Controller told Delhi High Court on Thursday, that Gambhir's Foundation was holding unauthorised stocks of Fabiflu. Stating that the MP's foundation had committed an offence under Rule 61 and 18 C of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, assuring that action will be taken without delay. The matter will again be considered on July 29.

DCGI to HC: 'Gautam Gambhir holding unauthorised drugs'

The 2-judge HC bench headed by Justice Sanghi questioned how the Gautam Gambhir Foundation procured stocks from dealers when the distribution was centralized. "We're again saying, what Mr. Gambhir did was in a public spirit. But at what expense? You caused a shortage to society. The general patients who needed the medicines couldn't get it," observed the HC.

The judge rebuked politicians for trying to gain popularity ahead of the next elections, saying, "This shouldn't be the criteria. That's why we want you to take action so that it becomes a lesson for others". The Drug controller told HC that not just Gambhir's cases, all other cases brought under the notice of the Drug Controller found to breach the Rules. 

Responding to the development, Gautam Gambhir took to Twitter to post a quote by Bhagat Singh. 

Delhi HC orders DCGI probe into Gautam Gambhir

On May 24, Delhi high court directed the drug agency to probe into hoarding of essential COVID medicines by BJP MP Gautam Gambhir and medical oxygen by AAP MLAs Priti Tomar and Praveen Kumar. Maintaining that the lawmakers may have had the best intentions, the court viewed their action as a disservice, directing DCGI to submit a report within 1 week.  The matter heard by Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh pertained to Delhi police's clean chit to nine politicians on 'hoarding medicines & oxygen supplies'.

The court noted that Gambhir had purchased 2628 strips of Fabiflu on prescription by a Dr Garg and distributed it among Delhi citizens, leaving only 258 strips for the DGHS. Similarly, in the AAP MLAs case, the court noted that oxygen cylinders were transported via the MLAs' offices instead of the nodal officers. The court had termed the clean chit given to nine politicians by the Delhi police on 'hoarding medicines & oxygen supplies' a 'wash-up report' and ordered it to file a fresh status report in a week.

Based on preliminary investigation,  Delhi Police in its initial enquiry against nine politicians on the alleged illegal distribution of Covid medicines including BJP MP Gautam Gambhir & Indian Youth Congress chief BV Srinivas has given them a clean chit. Stating that "they were actually helping people", Delhi police added  "the person enquired into have not charged any money for the help provided, and thus no one has been defrauded" in its affidavit.

The nine politicians probed by Delhi police for alleged hoarding include - BJP leaders Gautam Gambhir, Harish Khurana, Sujay Vikhe Patil, Congress leaders  BV Srinivas, Mukesh Sharma, Anil Kumar, Ali Mehndi, Ashok Bhagel and  AAP MLA Dilip Pandey.