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The Delhi High Court Friday quashed criminal proceedings against Indian cricket team head coach and former BJP MP Gautam Gambhir, his foundation and its members in a case involving the unlicenced distribution of drugs during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna pronounced the verdict on Friday in open court. A detailed order is awaited. The court had reserved its verdict in the case in August.
In September 2021, the HC had stayed proceedings in a criminal complaint filed by Delhi’s Drugs Control Department against the Gautam Gambhir Foundation (GGF) before a Rohini court. The interim stay, however, was vacated by the HC in April. In August, the HC had refused to restore the stay.
The complaint, filed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, alleged unauthorised stocking and distribution of a Covid drug during a medical camp held by the Foundation during the second wave of the pandemic in Delhi.
The Drugs Control Department had alleged that the GGF did not hold a licence for stocking or distributing the drugs, including medical oxygen, which was in contravention of provisions of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 & Rules.
The GGF, Gambhir and the other accused had sought quashing of the complaint filed under Section 200 CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code) before the magistrate court.
Also arraigned as accused in the complaint were GGF trustees — Gautam Gambhir, then BJP MP; his wife Natasha Gambhir; his mother Seema Gambhir, and CEO Aparajita Singh.
In May 2021, the BJP had said in a statement to Delhi Police that from April 22 to May 7 that year, the GGF organised a free medical camp at Jagriti Enclave to assist people suffering from Covid.
Two probes were initiated by the Delhi Police, which had then given a clean chit. However, the Delhi government, through its drug inspector, had filed a complaint in relation to the incident before the magistrate court, alleging unlawful distribution of Covid drugs like Fabiflu as well as oxygen.
