'Adar Poonawalla & SII Became Life Savers Of Indians; So Govt Must Protect Them' : Plea In Bombay High Court

A petition in Bombay High Court seeks registration of FIR against those allegedly giving threats to Adar Poonawalla, CEO Serum Institute of India(SII), manufacturers of the widely used Covidshield Vaccine.

Advocate Datta Mane's criminal writ petition, invoking Article 226 of the Constitution of India, further seeks directions to the Pune police to provide 'Z plus' security to Poonawala, his family members and also protect the assets/properties of Serum Institute of India.

The plea cites Poonawalla's recent interviews published in English dailies to state that the Poonallwala and his family, "live savers of India," are under threat.

"The petitioner submits that he was shocked and surprised to see the news report which shows that CEO Adar Poonalwalla has left India and gone to the United Kingdom, before travel restrictions were imposed on April 23, 202.

In an interview to "The Times," London Poonawalla said that Chief Ministers of States and businessmen had threatened him.

The petition notes that Poonawala, who took over his father's company as CEO in 2001, has given India 15,40,00,000 doses so far, which has helped vaccinate 2% of the country's population.

"That about 98% of the population is going to be vaccinated by the govt. If vaccine makers are threatened with life, then they will not be able to produce a vaccine to its fullest resources."

The plea states that while the Government must protect him, Chief Ministers have given him threats.

"If Mr Adar Poonalwalla is out of India due to fear to his life, then it will be Ship in Storm without its Captian. Mr Poonawalla and SII have become lifesavers of the Indian population, and hence the Government must protect them. However, the Chief Ministers have indulged into giving threats; hence the court-monitored security protection (Z plus) is required to be given."

Claiming that the "Y Security" given to Poonawalla after he left the country was an eyewash, the petitioner says SII's properties also need to be protected.

"If their lives and properties of serum institute are not protected, it will lead to a chaotic situation about vaccination and will ultimately lead to loss of lakhs of lives."

The petitioner says he sent an email complaint to the police on May 3; however, no action has been taken so far. The plea also states that Poonawala's Call Data Records will be required to determine the culprits behind threats given to him.

Prayers

This court be pleased to issue a writ of mandamus... directing the respondents No. 2 (Commissioner of Police Pune) & 3(Director General of Police) to register an FIR on the petitioner's complaint dated May 3 and direct Respondent No 2&3 to give a status report of the investigations done from time to time.

Order or direction directing the Respondents to protect Z Plus Security to CEO of Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd Mr Adar Poonawalla and his family members and also protect the properties of the asset of Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd.