44 arrested in UP for black-marketing of Remdesivir
To curb the illegal sale of essential drugs and oxygen amid the rising coronavirus infections in the state, the Uttar Pradesh Police and UP STF (special task force), on the instructions issued by the Yogi-led Government launched an extensive state-wide drive to check the black-marketing, hoarding and overcharging of remdesivir and other drugs used for treatment of critical COVID-19 patients.
In pursuance to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s order, the UP special task force (UP STF) and the local Police have arrested a total of 44 people dealing in black-marketing, hoarding and overcharging of life-saving Covid-19 drugs, medicines and oxygen within 10 days.
Taking immediate and strictest action, the Yogi Adityanath Government has invoked the provisions of stringent National Security Act (NSA) and Gangster Act against them. A total of Rs 9,42,660, over 687 Remdesivir vials, 340 oxygen cylinders and 4 cell phones have been recovered from the arrested men.
“It is a crime against humanity and no one dealing in the hoarding and black-marketing of Covid-19 medicines should be spared. The Police Force should work with the policy of Zero-Tolerance to instill fear in the minds of the culprits”, the CM said while instructing the concerned authorities to take a stern stand against the wrong-doers in the time of crisis.
The state government is fully committed to facilitate easy availability of vials and other Covid-related medicines to its people and the STF has been instructed to conduct state-wide drives to check the hoarding of essential drugs. With this, various other intelligence agencies have been deployed to check the illegal sales by carrying out raids and regular monitoring.
The control room set up by the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department on the instructions issued by the CM to ensure continuous supply of oxygen to hospitals in all districts remains active 24 hours and is keeping a strict vigil to assure oxygen is only being used for medical purposes. In addition to this, a helpline at the district level has also been issued to probe the alleged irregularities in the procurement of medical equipment pertaining to Covid-19. In view of the current covid situation, the injections and cylinders recovered from the accused are being used to treat people instead of making them a case property.
Lawsuit filed against Hospital Administration in Barabanki – Legal action has been taken against a member of a hospital administration in Barabanki for causing disruption and for spreading misinformation regarding shortage of oxygen and for not admitting patients. The member of the hospital administration was refusing to admit patients and had made a false statement about unavailability of oxygen, however, post an investigation the truth was revealed exposing the misinformation being spread by the accused.
A total of 44 arrested in a span of 10 days- A total of 265 vials were recovered from three persons arrested by Kanpur unit of Special Task Force (STF), who were selling the drug for Rs 4,000, thus making an earning of more than Rs 10 lakhs. The Kanpur Police arrested Sivakant Pandey, the manager of Ved Sassomeccanica India Pvt Ltd, located in Industrial Area Site No-4 with illegal cylinders. 20 oxygen cylinders were recovered from the accused. The Kanpur police arrested three persons in the Anwarganj police station area, dealing in illegal sale of oxygen cylinders, 64 empty and 50 filled oxygen cylinders were recovered from them. One person was arrested in the Colonelganj police station area dealing in black marketing of oximeters. In the Govind Nagar police station area of Kanpur, 51 gas cylinders were recovered from Jaswant Singh, owner of Singh Gas Agency and a case was filed.
GB Nagar police arrested Rachit Ghai in Sector 20 for black marketing Remdesivir injections. A total of Rs 1,54,000 and 100 Indian, 5 Remdesivir injections from Bangladesh were recovered from him. The Lucknow police busted a racket of Remdesivir injections near Era Medical College. A total of 34 injections and Rs 4,69,000 were recovered from four people. Thakurganj Police in Lucknow arrested two accused from Era Medical College for selling Remdesivir injections illegally. Rs 47,000 and 6 injections were recovered. Naka Hindola Police in Lucknow arrested four near Charbagh Metro station for selling Remdesivir illegally. 116 injections and Rs 1,94,000 in cash was recovered from them. The Aminabad police in Lucknow arrested two accused from the Najirabad outpost area for selling Remdesivir illegally. Rs 39,000 in cash and 11 injections were recovered from them.
Lucknow Police also busted a racket of fake Remdesivir injections. A total of 91 vials named as DESREM were recovered from the arrested men identified as Kaushal Shukla, Ajeet Maurya and Rakesh Tiwari, who were selling it for Rs 15,000- Rs 20,000 each in the Manaknagar area. The Gomtinagar police in Lucknow arrested four people near Gwari intersection for selling Remdesivir illegally. A total of Rs 51,400 and 54 injections were recovered from them.
The Kotwali Nagar police of Prayagraj arrested three persons for black marketing of Remdesivir injection while fixing a deal on a mobile phone. Four mobile phones and Rs 5000 were recovered from them. In Barabanki, one accused of black marketing of Remdesivir injections was arrested. Five 100mg injections were recovered from him. Eight accused in Lisadigat police station area of ??Meerut were arrested for black marketing of Remdesivir. An injection and Rs 25,000 cash were recovered from them.
In the Krishnanagar police station area of ??Lucknow, an accused was arrested while black-marketing of oxygen cylinders. 54 missing oxygen cylinders, refilling equipment and two pickup loader vehicles were recovered.
Ghaziabad Police recovered 101 oxygen cylinders from two accused for illegally selling cylinders in Nandgram area.
