SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch has booked the owners of a Jammu-based pharmaceutical company and government officials in connection with the spurious drugs scandal.
The Press Trust of India reports that a case has been registered against the proprietors of Life Line Pharmaco Surgicals of Jammu and members of the Purchase Committee of Health and Medical Education Department.
Lab tests had found that the drug – Maximizen-625, supposed to contain 500mg of Amoxicillin, actually had zero percent of Amoxicillin.
A report submitted by a high-level committee formed by the government to probe into the scam showed that the owners of Life Line Pharmaco Surgicals flouted government norms while participating in the tendering process, crime branch officers told PTI.
They accused Lifeline of producing a fake authorisation certificate by a company Medley Pharmaceuticals Ltd for the purchase of the drugs.
“Life Line Pharmaco Surgicals and the owners of Life Line Pharmaco Surgicals had entered into the tendering process and supply of drugs by producing fake and fabricated authorisation certificate,” they said.
“The company supplied spurious drugs in connivance with officials of the Purchase Committee-II, who without verifying the tender documents and credentials of the supplier, approved the rates by abusing their official position, causing wrongful gain to suppliers and huge loss to public exchequer.”
Two brothers have been arrested.
One of the accused, Amardeep Raina was arrested from New Delhi while his brother Ashok was nabbed from Jammu, a senior Crime Branch official told PTI.
Amardeep, who is reportedly one of the proprietors of the company which supplied the fake drugs, and Ashok have been held here for questioning, the officer said.
Search is on to nab another accused Akhil Gadoo, who is reportedly the second proprietor of the company, he said.
