Hetero Labs donated electoral bonds worth Rs. 60 crore
IT Dept had found Rs. 550 crore unaccounted income during raid at Hetero Labs in 2021
New Delhi: The release of data on electoral bonds by the Election Commission, as mandated by the Supreme Court, has shed light on concerning contributions from pharmaceutical companies, particularly Hetero Drugs, a major manufacturer of Remdesivir, a drug crucial in treating COVID-19 patients.
According to the data, Hetero Drugs and its subsidiary Hetero Labs have collectively donated ₹60 crore to political parties through electoral bonds. Hetero Labs is the manufacturer of Remdesivir, which has been touted as a "life-saving drug" in the treatment of COVID-19 but has faced criticism due to its high cost and availability issues.
The significant contribution made by Hetero Drugs raises questions about the potential influence of pharmaceutical companies on political parties, particularly in a context where healthcare and drug pricing policies are of paramount importance.
It's worth noting that Hetero Drugs and Hetero Labs have faced scrutiny in the past. In 2021, both companies were subjected to income tax raids, with the IT department reportedly detecting unaccounted income amounting to ₹550 crore during the raids conducted at their offices in Sanath Nagar.
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Man arrested with Rs 2.54-crore heroin in Mumbai
Mumbai (PTI): Police have arrested a man and seized over 500 grams of heroin worth Rs 2.54 crore in the illicit market from him in Mumbai, officials said on Friday.
The police's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) made the drug seizure in Santacruz in the western suburbs. The operation was conducted by the Kandivali unit of the ANC on Thursday as part of a special crackdown against drug trafficking in the area, they said.
Acting on specific inputs, an ANC team conducted a raid in Santacruz (East) and intercepted a man. During a search, the team recovered 508 grams of high-grade heroin from his possession, an official said.
The seized contraband, a highly addictive, opioid drug derived from morphine, is estimated to be worth Rs 2.54 crore in the international market, he informed.
Following the seizure, a case was registered against the man under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and he was formally placed under arrest in the early hours of Friday.
The police are currently investigating the source of the drug and trying to identify the intended recipients of the consignment, he said.
