Cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday earned the ire of Delhi High Court for procuring Covid-19 related prescription-only drugs like Fabiflu tablets from certain distributors and giving out the same free of cost to patients of his constituency alone. The court wanted to know how BJP MP Gautam Gambhir is able to distribute medicines being used to treat Covid-19 and procure them in large quantities. Senior advocate Rahul Mehra, representing the Delhi government, told the court that it is “highly irresponsible” if the same is happening.
A division bench of the Delhi High Court comprising Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli hit out at Gambhir, saying, “Are these not prescription drugs? How is anybody able to procure large quantities? Is he holding a license to deal in these drugs? Does this not require license or what?” The court added, “We had thought it would stop after that report. It is still continuing.” The bench was referring to the hearing of last week, during which too, the issue of Gautam Gambhir distributing prescription-only drugs had caught the attention of the High Court.
It is unlikely that Gautam Gambhir is in possession of any required permissions to procure large quantities of Covid-19 drugs and distribute them to people of his constituency. Earlier, when the issue had first caught the public eye, the BJP MP had said, “If a few 100 strips of tablets obtained from a distributor are being given for free, then, can it be called hoarding? Is my obtaining a few strips of Fabiflu causing the shortage? You can call me wrong, but I’ll do everything to save lives of people.” Fabiflu, being used to treat mild to moderate Covid infections by some doctors, is in short supply in the capital.
Those who allowed Remdesivir to be black marketed at more than 30 thousand a vial & hospital beds to be sold for 5-10 Lakh in Delhi are concerned that a few hundred Fabiflu strips are being given for FREE to the poor. That’s their understanding of “Hoarding” #HumanLivesMatter
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) April 21, 2021
Only a week ago, in a tweet, Gambhir had said, “People of East Delhi can get ‘Fabiflu’ from MP office (2, Jagriti Enclave) for FREE between 10-5. Kindly get Aadhar and prescription.” Subsequently, Gambhir put out two more tweets telling his constituents where they could procure Fabiflu tablets from. Gambhir, however, did point out that patients must bring prescription and their Aadhar cards for being able to procure Fabiflu tablets.
People of East Delhi can get ‘Fabiflu’ from MP office (2, Jagriti Enclave) for FREE between 10-5. Kindly get Aadhar & prescription
पूर्वी दिल्ली के लोग “Fabiflu” मेरे कार्यालय (2, जाग्रति एन्क्लेव) से 10 से 5 के बीच मुफ़्त में ले सकते हैं. अपना आधार और डॉक्टर की पर्ची ले आएं
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) April 21, 2021
We all have to stand by each other to survive. Will provide ‘Fabiflu’ to as many as we can in Delhi from GGF office (22, Pusa Road) between 10-4 from tmrw for FREE. Kindly bring Aadhar & prescription. Arranging for more O2 cylinders as well. #InThisTogether
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) April 25, 2021
Want to reiterate that patients outside East Delhi can get ‘Fabiflu’ from GGF office – 22, Pusa Road b/w 10-4 for FREE
मैं दोबारा बताना चाहता हूँ की पूर्वी दिल्ली से दूर रहने वाले मरीज़ ‘फ़ैबीफ़्लू’ GGF कार्यालय 22, पूसा रोड से 10-4 के बीच मुफ़्त में ले सकते हैं!
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) April 27, 2021
Congress and AAP leaders are up in arms against Gautam Gambhir. AAP leader Rajesh Sharma said, “This is the reason why Remdisivir, Fabiflu and other critical medicines are out of market. BJP leaders are hoarding these medicines. We have seen this in Gujarat also. Such leaders must be booked.” “Is this not criminal? An MP hoarding medicines and giving it as per his wishes. Why should he not give them to the hospital?” tweeted Somnath Bharti of the Aam Aadmi Party.
1) How much Fabiflu do you have in your possession?
2) How did you procure so much of Fabiflu? @GautamGambhirCC @ArvindKejriwal :
1) Is this legal?
2) Is the shortage of Fabiflu at chemists’ shops due to such unauthorised procurement/distribution? https://t.co/ZfKnLINB2J— Pawan Khera (@Pawankhera) April 21, 2021
Delhi is among the cities worst hit by the deadly second wave of Covid-19. The capital’s positivity rate has breached the 32 per cent mark, and Arvind Kejriwal seems to have lost all control of the crisis.
