The bench of Chief Justice Dr. Ravi Ranjan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad of Jharkhand High court on Thursday directed State government to take necessary steps to stop black-marketing of Remdesivir, the lifesaving medicine for Covid 19 patients, besides any other medicine or thing needed in the treatment of Covid 19.

The court passed the direction while hearing a PIL filed last year related to management of Jharkhand government in tackling and treating Covid 19. But, the court suo moto took up the issue of black marketing of medicines and others during the course of hearing.

The court said that the Crime Investigation Department (CID) should be pressed to monitor if the black-marketing of medicines, oxygen cylinders and like are going on. The court directed plainclothes police officers must carry surprise inspections of government and private hospitals. In the wake of alleged black marketing of Remdesivir in the State capital; the court directed Ranchi SSP to submit a report. 

Advocate General Rajeev Ranjan appearing on behalf of the State government informed the bench that the state government and administration are watchful to detect and prevent black marketing of life saving medicines, oxygen cylinders and likes. He said that actions are being taken in such cases. The advocate general said that the state government is taking all steps to increase health infrastructure to treat and tackle Covid 19 cases.

Notably, a person identified as Rajeev Kumar Singh was nabbed by Ranchi police on Wednesday for illegally selling Remdesivir at exorbitant price. He was charged for selling five vials of Remdesivir worth Rs 1.10 lakh. Sources in the police said that investigation is going to ascertain that how he used to get Remdesivir.