On Friday, the Delhi High Court reserved its order on a plea filed by Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir, his foundation, and family members seeking to quash proceedings in a case alleging hoarding and unlicensed distribution of medicines during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The case arose from a complaint filed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, alleging that the Gautam Gambhir Foundation, along with Gautam Gambhir, his wife Natasha Gambhir, and mother Seema Gambhir, unlawfully procured, stocked, and distributed COVID-19 medicines during medical camps in 2021. The petitioners have challenged the trial court’s summoning order and sought the quashing of the criminal proceedings.
Earlier, in September 2021, a coordinate bench had stayed trial court proceedings, which were later revived after Justice Krishna vacated the stay in April 2024. The petitioners subsequently moved a fresh application for the recall of that order.
The Drugs Controller of Delhi had also initiated prosecution against Aam Aadmi Party MLAs Praveen Kumar and Imran Hussain on similar allegations. An inquiry by the investigating team had examined specific charges of hoarding and unauthorised distribution against Gambhir and the MLAs.
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