Uzbekistan cough syrup case: Production licence of Marion Biotech suspended, test results awaited
Noida (PTI): The production licence of Noida-based pharmaceutical firm Marion Biotech, allegedly linked with the deaths of children in Uzbekistan, has been suspended while the results of its controversial cough syrup are awaited, an Uttar Pradesh drug official said Thursday.
A team of central agencies and the Uttar Pradesh drug department had carried out an inspection at the firm's office here on December 29 and taken six more samples for testing.
During the inspection, the company representatives could not produce documents related to the production of 'Dok-1 max' cough syrup, prompting the government to order halting of its production immediately, Gautam Buddh Nagar Drug Inspector Vaibhav Babbar said.
"The production licence of the firm remains suspended, as was ordered on December 29. Now the suspension order has been issued in writing to the firm on January 10 and has been acknowledged by the firm," Babbar told PTI.
On the status of the test results, the officer said the samples were taken by the central agencies and their results are yet to arrive.
Marion Biotech did not sell the cough syrup, 'Doc-1 Max', in India and its only export has been to Uzbekistan, Babbar had told PTI earlier and estimated that the company exported around 1 lakh syrups in 45 days.
India's central regulatory body for pharmaceuticals and medical devices, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), has initiated a probe in connection with the death of 18 children in Uzbekistan allegedly linked to Marion Biotech.
The health ministry of Uzbekistan has claimed that the 18 children had consumed the cough syrup.
Hasan Harris, a legal representative of Marion Biotech, had earlier said that the governments of both countries are looking into the matter.
The company had stopped production of the cough syrup after the case came to light.
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BJP chief Vijayendra hails ED probe in MUDA case
Kalaburagi (PTI): Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Wednesday said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into the MUDA case has vindicated his party's stand that this scam was not limited to the irregularities in 14 sites belonging to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's family.
He noted that the investigation by the ED in the preliminary stage has uncovered over Rs 700 crore worth of irregularities.
Vijayendra also raised doubts over the inquiry conducted by the Lokayukta police into the matter.
"We have been saying that thr MUDA scam is not restricted to the allotment of 14 sites to the Chief Minister's family... I had said earlier also that it's a scam worth hundreds of crores of rupees," he said in a press conference here in Kalaburagi.
He said his statement was not a mere accusation, but a charge now proved by the ED probe.
"The ED has carried out an impartial probe. Preliminary investigation has revealed that more than Rs 700 crore worth scam has taken place in MUDA site allotment."
He said the ED has found that irregularities have taken place in the allotment of 14 sites to CM's wife Parvathi B M.
The central agency, in a recent communication sent to the Karnataka Lokayukta department, also claimed that its probe has also found that MUDA had "illegally" allotted a total of 1,095 sites in benami and other such transactions.
The agency has also claimed to have found evidence that one of Siddaramaiah's personal assistants, S G Dinesh Kumar alias CT Kumar, wielded "undue influence" in the process.
