Plea in Delhi High Court Seeks Action Against Politicians Hoarding And Illegally Distributing Covid 19 Medicines, Prays Detention Under NSA

A public interest litigation has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking registration of FIRs against leaders of political parties indulging in hoarding and illegally distributing covid 19 medicines denying the access to the said medicines to the public at large.

The petition moved by Dr. Deepak Singh, Chairman of Hruduya Foundation and filed by Advocate Gaurav Pathak also seeks CBI investigation into the "nexus of politicians and medical mafia" and further prays for detention of such persons indulging in black-marketing of Covid-19 medicines as per National Security Act, 1980.

"Political parties, most of which are invariably headquartered in Delhi are taking advantage of their political powers and are giving patronage to medical mafia. This complementary relationship is at the cost of lives of thousands of citizens of India, who are dying due to unavailability of critical medicines." The petition states.

The incidents of politicians hoarding covid medicines as highlighted in the petition are as follows:

- Member of Parliament Gautam Gambhir, Bhartiya Janata Party announcement for free of cost distribution of Fabiflu from his office.

- BJP Gujarat Unit Chief announcement on the free distribution of 5,000 doses of the Remdesivir.

- BJP MLA from north Maharashtra Shirish Chaudhari, illegally distributing Remdesivir vials without having any requisite licence.

-Sharad Pawar and Rohit Pawar of NCP reportedly distributing more than 300 vials of Remdesivir.

"That arrests are being made across States in relation to hoarding and black marketing of Remdesivir. It is most humbly submitted that these instances are not isolated in nature but point out to a huge large scale mafia operation, which has a political nexus. It is unpardonable that a single vial of Remdesivir which ordinarily costs around Rs. 1000/-, is now being sold in the black marked in upwards of Rs. 70,000/-". The petition states.

The petition states the following prayers:

- Direct registration of FIR and investigation into the medical mafia-politicians nexus by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

- Direct detention of persons indulging in black-marketing of Covid-19 medicines as per National Security Act, 1980.

- Direct for disqualification of MPs and MLAs found to be hoarding and illegally distributing Covid-19 medicines.

- Issue any other writ, order or direction, which may be deemed fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case and in the interest of justice.