After a mid-night drama at the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) Police station in north-central Mumbai over the detention of a director of a pharmaceutical company for allegedly hoarding 60,000 Remdesivir vials, State Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil on Sunday indicated that the State Government might initiate action against leader of the Opposition Devendra Fadnavis and other BJP leaders for “interfering” in the investigations by the police.
Hours after a major controversy broke out over Fadnavis and other State BJP leaders’ visit to the BKC Police station shortly before midnight ostensibly to “enquire” about the detention of the director of Bruck Pharma, the State Home Minister confirmed that he had taken cognisance of the incident at the incident at the police station and hinted at the possibility of initiating action against Fadnavis and other BJP.
“I will talk to my colleagues and take a decision on the nature of action to be taken in this regard,” Walse-Patil said, when he was asked whether the state government would take action against Fadnavis and other BJP leaders for allegedly “interfering” in the police investigations.
Earlier in the day, Maharashtra NCP president and State Water Resources Minister Jayant Patil and State Congress president Nana Patole hit out at Fadnavis and other BJP leaders for “interfering” in the investigations over the alleged hoarding of Remdesivir vials by a pharmaceutical company.
In a letter written to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, Patole alleged that Fadnavis, leader of the Opposition in the State Legislative Council Pravin Derekar and party leader Prasad Lad had put pressure on the BKC police and got the detained Bruck Pharma director released.
“The three BJP leaders and hundreds of party workers interfered in the investigations in a Remdesivir hoarding case and got the firm’s director released. They claimed that the pharma owner had got stocks of Remdesivir for them after obtaining permission from a Union Minister. Since Remdesivir stocks cannot be obtained and distributed by private people, how did Fadnavis obtain permission for the same from the Centre?,” Patole asked in his letter to the chief minister. Demanding to know under what law the BJP leaders purchased Remdesivir vials from the pharmaceutical company, Jayant Patil wondered: “How could the State BJP leaders purchase Remdesivir vials without informing the state government and the local police? Is there change in law with regard to Remdesivir?”
In post-mid night tweets put out after his and other BJP leaders’ visit to the BKC police station, Fadnavis had claimed that the police had detained an official of Bruck Pharma who was supposed to supply #Remdesivir to Maharashtra.
“As we all are fighting against #COVID19 pandemic in such a difficult times, in an extremely shameful act, MVA Government suddenly detained official of Bruck Pharma who was supposed to supply #Remdesivir to Maharashtra,” Fadnavis had tweeted, while defending the pharmaceutical company accused of hoarding 60,000 Remdesivir vials.
“He took all permissions from Maharashtra & Daman administration,even Union Minister himself asked him to supply maximum Remdesivir to Maharashtra, And if still MVA is busy doing such cheap politics, it is a matter of utter shame!,” Fadnavis had tweeted.
Meanwhile, Mumbai’s Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) and police spokesperson Chaitanya S issued a detailed statement on the incident that took place at the BKC police station on Saturday night.
“Mumbai Police had specific information about stocking of a large quantity (60,000 vials) of Remdesevir medicine by a pharmaceutical company. This stock of Remdesevir could not be exported due to an existing ban by the Government of India on the export of Remdesevir. Remdesevir is considered a life saving medicine for Covid-19 positive patients,” Chaitanaya said.
“Acting on specific information, on 17th April, a director of this pharmaceutical company was called by BKC Police Station for inquiry. A team from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) was also there at BKC Police Station. The Commissioner and Joint Commissioner, FDA, were also aware of this,” the police spokesperson said.
“On the same day, at about 11.15 PM, Hon’ble Leader of Opposition Shri Devendra Fadanvis, Hon’ble Leader of Opposition Shri Praveen Darekar, MLA Shri Parag Alavani and Shri Prasad Lad visited BKC Police Station. Shri Devendra Fadnavis enquired why the director of the pharmaceutical company was called to the Police Station,” the DCP stated.
“He (Fadnavis) said permission was taken from Commissioner FDA to donate the stock of Remdesevir vials to the Maharashtra Govt, as Remdesevir stocked for export cannot be diverted to the domestic market without permission from the Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) or FDA,” the police spokesperson said.
Chaitanaya said that the communication from FDA to the pharmaceutical company was not shared with BKC Police Station, which was acting independently on the information available with them. Mumbai Police acted in good faith.
“The director of the pharmaceutical company was called for inquiry in order to trace and seize a large quantity i.e., 60,000 vials, of the life saving medicine Remdesevir based on a specific input verified by facts. This inquiry was necessary in the light of complaints of rampant hoarding and black marketing of Remdesevir and shortage being faced by citizens,” Chaitanaya said.
“These facts were explained to the Hon’ble Leaders of Opposition. They were informed that necessary legal action will be taken against those illegally hoarding Remdesevir,” the police spokesperson said.
“Senior officers of Mumbai Police were present. The director of the pharmaceutical company was questioned and later allowed to go after asking him to be present for inquiry whenever called,” Chaitanya said.