Mahima
Even after various reports and doctors assure that remdesivir is not a life-saving drug, in black market, it continues to flourish.
The recently busted 31-year-old remdesivir hoarder made anywhere between Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 40,000 on sale of each injection in last one month.
The Delhi-based black marketeer found most of his customers through WhatsApp groups.
Remdesivir is only meant for hospital purposes and is not sold over the counter.
The drug is sold under different brand names by companies with varying prices, beginning at just under Rs. 1,000.
However, the accused Rachit Ghai found several customers willing to pay many times the MRP for the said drug.
Ghai sourced the injections from agents in Chandigarh and Delhi’s Dwarka and sold the injections across Noida.
Ghai possessed about 100 vials when he was arrested, at least five of which were Bangladesh made. A Santro and Rs. 1.54 lakh was also seized from the accused.
DCP (Crime) Abhishek Singh stated, “We got information that some persons had been selling Remdesivir to patients’ families for a high price. The accused was active on Facebook and other social media platforms from where the information was received and action taken. He sourced most of the vials from Chandigarh and some five-six vials from Delhi”.
Ghai worked at a cardboard factory in Delhi but shifted to Noida after the factory shut down.
Ghai claims to have sold around 150 injections but police believe the number to be much larger.
The police are looking for a Haryana-based man who they believe to be the main supplier.
A Police officer said that the injections were procured by Ghai in bulk and therefore, the batch numbers on the injections are being scanned to verify their manufacturing details.
The accused has been booked under Section 420 for cheating under Indian penal Code and various sections under Drug and cosmetics Act and Epidemic Diseases Act.
Police are also investigating black marketing of oxygen as a youth named Monu allegedly circulated advertisements stating availability of oxygen cylinders for Rs. 30,000 out of which Rs. 5,000 was refundable on cylinder being returned.
