New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed a criminal case against Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir, his charitable foundation, and members of his family in connection with allegations of illegally stocking and distributing Covid-19 medicines during the pandemic. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna delivered the order, formally stating that the “criminal complaint stands quashed.”
The ruling came on a petition challenging the trial court’s summons issued to Gambhir, his wife Natasha Gambhir, his mother Seema Gambhir, and the Gautam Gambhir Foundation, including its CEO Aprajita Singh. The Delhi government’s Drug Control Department had earlier filed a complaint under Section 18(c) and Section 27(b)(ii) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, accusing the group of distributing medicines without a valid licence.
Section 18(c) prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution of drugs without proper authorisation, while Section 27(b)(ii) prescribes imprisonment of three to five years and a fine for violations involving sale or distribution.
The controversy dates back to September 20, 2021, when the High Court initially stayed proceedings against Gambhir and sought a response from the drug control authority on his petition challenging the complaint and the summons. However, on April 9 this year, the court lifted the stay, prompting Gambhir to file a fresh plea seeking recall of that order.
Counsel for the Drug Control Department had objected to the recall plea, arguing that Gambhir bypassed the sessions court, rendering the petition non-maintainable. The prosecution also insisted that the distribution of drugs without a licence was an admitted fact, arguing that the absence of sale did not exempt the accused from liability.
The High Court, however, ultimately rejected the criminal complaint in its entirety, bringing an end to the proceedings against Gambhir and the other accused.
