Read Time: 04 minutes

The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Drug Controller to investigate the procurement and distribution of 2628 strips of Fabiflu by BJP MP Gautam Gambhir.

The Division bench comprising Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh passed the order while hearing a plea relating to hoarding of essential Covid medicines by politicians during the pandemic.

Advocate Virag Gupta appearing for the petitioner submitted that 2628 strips of Fabiflu was procured by Gambhir on a single prescription of Dr. Sanjay Garg of Garg Hospital and 285 strips were left after distribution which have been submitted with the Director General of Drug Controller.  He further submitted that an investigation is required into the nexus between politicians and distributors who were procuring the medicines and distributing among people who they know, when there is shortage of the drug in markets.

The bench observed “Mr. Gautam Gambhir may have done it with the best of intentions to help the state but it is in no way that actions cannot be taken due to this…. Our concern is... is it a responsible behaviour when there is such a shortage of supply of the medicine? If he wanted to help, he should have funded instead.”  

The bench further observed “Gautam Gambhir is a great cricketer and we believe that he has done everything in good faith. But things have happened in between that are not right”. 

It was further noted that as per law and several judgements it is not the Delhi Police but the Drug Controller who has to investigate the matter. Hence the Court also directed the Law department of GNCTD to ensure necessary expertise is provided to the Drug Controller to perform their duty.

The Court has also asked the Drug Controller to investigate the case of hoarding of Oxygen Cylinders by AAP MLAs Preeti Tomar and Praveen Kumar. Status report to be filed within a week. Matter has been listed for hearing on 31^st May.