Gautam Gambhir Foundation under scanner for unauthorised purchase of COVID-19 drug

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has found the Gautam Gambhir Foundation guilty of unauthorisedly stocking, procuring and distributing Fabiflu medicine to COVID-19 patients, the Delhi High Court was informed on Thursday. The DCGI was submitting a new report to the court after it was reprimanded for giving a clean chit to Gambhir's foundation earlier. The Drugs Controller submitted that action would be taken without delay against the organisation, drug dealers as also in other such cases which would be brought to its notice. The body also found Aam Aadmi Party's MLA Praveen Kumar guilty under the same act. The court asked Rao whether the status report submitted by the drug controller was in relation to Gambhir only or "does it relate to Praveen Kumar also?"

"Status report deals with MLA Praveen Kumar also and we have found him guilty too," Rao said in a response to the court. Delhi HC asks them to take action against these people as well as others saying that an example needs to be set. "We want you to take action against these violation in terms of your report so that an example is set," the court said. It also directed the body to file a status report on the same. The matter has been listed for further hearing on July 29.The court was hearing the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Deepak Kumar, seeking a first information report (FIR) against Gambhir and others involved in the matter. In his statement of May 14, Gambhir had told the Delhi Police that the Gautam Gambhir Foundation had organised a free medical camp at Jagriti Enclave from April 22 to May 7 to provide assistance to people suffering from Covid-19. The camp remained under the supervision and control of Dr Manish of Garg Hospital, he said in the reply. “A total of 2,628 strips of Fabiflu were purchased from authorised vendors against prescription… given by Dr Sanjay Garg (Garg Hospital). Respective invoices were obtained by the Foundation from the Vendors for the said purchase,” Gambhir had said, adding 2,343 strips of the drug were distributed free of cost to attendants of Covid-19 patients against the prescription produced by them. He had also said that “unprecedented and desperate situations call for desperate measures and remedies”.