Fake antibiotic medicines worth Rs 17.5 lakh seized in raids across Gujarat; 4 held
Ahmedabad (PTI): Fake antibiotic drugs worth Rs 17.5 lakh and used to treat serious diseases have been seized in raids across various cities of Gujarat and four persons apprehended in this connection, an official said on Sunday.
Some of these persons worked as medical representatives of "benami" companies and used to deliver the fake medicines to doctors, the Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) said in a release.
The FDCA officials conducted raids in various cities such Nadiad, Surat, Ahmedabad and Rajkot and seized the fake drugs, it said.
"Fake antibiotic drugs worth Rs 17.5 lakh used to treat serious diseases were seized from Ahmedabad and other cities," Gujarat Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) Commissioner HG Koshia said.
Acting on a tip-off, the Ahmedabad office of the food and drug regulator nabbed one Khimaram Kumhar in Ahmedabad with 99 boxes of POSMOX CV 625 antibiotic tablets worth Rs 2,61,250 on Friday, a release from the FDCA said.
When questioned, the man revealed the fake medicines were delivered to him allegedly by one Arun Amera, also a resident of Ahmedabad, who in-turn led the officials to another accused, identified as Vipul Degda.
From Degda, five different fake antibiotic medicines having a total value of Rs 4,83,300 were confiscated, the release said.
Degda led the officials to one Darshan Vyas, who was being questioned.
An examination of Degda's mobile phone revealed he had supplied fake antibiotic medicines to doctors in different cities of the state without bills, the FDCA said.
Later, the officials also conducted raids in Ahmedabad and other cities and seized fake antibiotic drugs worth Rs 10.50 lakh, it said.
"Some of these persons worked as medical representatives of benami companies and used to deliver these fake antibiotic medicines to doctors," stated the release.
During the probe, the FDCA found these drugs were shown as manufactured by a pharmaceutical company at Baddi in Himachal Pradesh.
When the FDCA here contacted authorities in Himachal Pradesh, they said no such manufacturing firm existed, the release said.
The four persons were detained and handed over to Isanpur police in Ahmedabad for further investigation, it said, adding a case was registered under provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Hospital wall collapse: CM orders suspension of executive engineer; kin of victims get solatium
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday ordered the immediate suspension of an executive engineer for the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital wall collapse that claimed the lives of seven people, during a high-level review meeting at Vidhana Soudha.
A compensation of Rs 5 lakh, as announced by the CM Siddaramaiah, was distributed to the families of seven victims who lost their lives in the tragedy on Wednesday evening, which occurred due to heavy downpour with gusty winds and hailstorm.
The meeting of municipal commissioners of the five corporations, chaired by the chief minister and attended by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, focused on fixing accountability and examining lapses that led to the tragedy.
"Why was soil dumped in a way that damaged the wall? Why did you not monitor this?" Siddaramaiah asked, pulling up hospital authorities during the meeting.
A statement from the chief minister's office said that the CM ordered the immediate suspension of the executive engineer of the Karnataka Health Systems Development Project (KHSDP).
ALSO READ: Three arrested for running fake Aadhaar racket in UP's Badaun
He also questioned the hospital authorities, asking why they failed to monitor the dumping of soil that weakened the structure.
The chief minister directed that a notice be issued to the head of the Hospital.
During the meeting, Siddaramaiah said the rains had caused extensive damage in the city, with over 250 trees uprooted.
The Chief Minister instructed officials to take necessary measures before the onset of the monsoon to avoid untoward incidents.
Commissioners of all five municipal zones in Bengaluru have been asked to take precautionary steps, including trimming dry and dangerous tree branches, the CMO said.
Siddaramaiah also directed them to get the silt cleared from stormwater drains to prevent flooding, and that immediate action be taken to remove debris and fallen branches from roads.
Further, he instructed that barricades be placed at underpasses where water stagnates and restricts public movement.
The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) Chief Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao said in a statement that Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad distributed compensation cheques of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased on Thursday.
Seven people, including a six-year-old girl, were killed and seven others injured when the compound wall collapsed amid heavy rain, strong winds and a hailstorm on Wednesday evening.
Police said the victims, comprising three from Bengaluru, two from Kerala on a study tour and one each from Uttar Pradesh and Assam, had taken shelter near the wall when it suddenly gave way, trapping them under the debris.
The chief minister questioned officials over the dumping of soil near the wall despite knowing it could weaken the structure, and directed that a notice be issued to the head of Bowring Hospital.
Siddaramaiah, who had visited the spot soon after the incident along with senior officials, reviewed the situation and ordered a detailed probe into the collapse.
