Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Monday demanded an inquiry into the account from which BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis bought Remdesivir worth ₹4.5 crore. The Congress leader took to Twitter and wrote, "In fact Devendra Phadnavis should be investigated from which account he bought Remdesivir worth ₹4.5 crore and also with whose permission. It is absolutely shameful. And also was GST paid? When patients in Hospitals are running from pillar to post for Remdesivir injection here we have an ex CM cornering these rare injections for his own political gains!!"
Earlier on Saturday, Fadnavis had accused the Maharastra Police of harassing the Daman-based Remdesivir supplier for agreeing to supply a stock of the drug to the state on the request of BJP leaders.
Fadnavis said permission was taken from the Commissioner, FDA to donate the stock of Remdesivir vials to Maharashtra government, as the drug stocked for export cannot be diverted to the domestic market without the permission of the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) or FDA," it added.
"Four days ago, we had requested Bruck Pharma to supply a stock of Remdesivir vials to Maharashtra. They said they couldn't until permissions were given. I spoke with Union Minister Mansukh Mandviya and got Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s permission. Tonight around nine pm, the police arrested him," Fadnavis had told reporters.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil also explained that there was a specific input on which Mumbai Police acted upon and called the director of the company for inquiry."Both Leaders of Opposition reaching there and pressurising police was not a right thing. We are inquiring in this matter further and necessary action will be taken," he said.
The Police and FDA are keeping a close watch on other reports of Black marketing and hoarding of Remdesivir and other important drugs, Patil added.