Gautam Gambhir Drug Hoarding: Delhi High Court Stays Trial Court Proceedings against Gautam Gambhir Foundation

The Delhi court on Monday stayed trial court proceedings against Gautam Gambhir & his foundation along with some other people licked to the alleged hoarding and illegal distribution of Covid-19 drugs during the second wave.

Listing the matter for further hearing on December 8, the judge said, “Till then the proceedings are stayed”.

Drug Control Department has filed a complaint against the Member of Parliament from East Delhi, his foundation, its CEO Aprajita Singh, his mother and wife, Seema Gambhir and Natasha Gambhir, respectively -- who are both trustees in the foundation –- for offences under section 18(c) read with section 27(b)(ii) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

Section 18(c) prohibits manufacture, sale distribution of drugs without a licence and Section 27(b) (ii) makes sale, distribution without valid licence punishable with imprisonment for a term, not be less than three years but which may extend to five years and with fine.

“The charitable activities of the petitioners in procuring medicines and oxygen cylinders to be given away under the supervision of doctors for free is not covered as an activity requiring license under Section of 18 (c) of the Act, 1940, and therefore, would be not an offence under Section 27 of the Act of 1940. Thus, at a threshold analysis itself, it is evident that the Impugned Complaint is a gross abuse of process of the Hon''ble Court,” the plea said.