STF seizes 9.5 Lakh banned pills, but is powerless to act against druggist

LUDHIANA: On a day when the Special Task Force (STF) of Ludhiana police seized 9.57 lakh banned pills worth Rs 46.77 lakh from two pharmacies and their godowns in Pindi street, cops found themselves helpless as they couldn’t take any action against the owner as per the law.
Importantly, cops suspected these pills were sold to drug addicts.

The raid that started late on Friday night concluded at 3am of Saturday. According to officials, the pharmacy had no bill for these pills.

Accompanied by officials from the drugs department, STF sleuths conducted raids at Appy Farma, Jai Ma enterprises and godowns, all owned by Praveen Goyal. Earlier on May 10, cops and officials of the drugs department had seized intoxicating pills worth Rs 5.29 lakh from Appy Farma.

According to STF and drugs department, the pharmacy owner is a license holder and thus he cannot be booked or arrested despite the huge recovery. The drugs department has meanwhile served him a notice over the recovery and has recommended the state authority to cancel his license.

Ironically, the process to cancel licence has no deadline and till that time the accused can continue his business.

STF AIG Sanehdeep Sharma said, “Following a tip-off, the STF team led by sub-inspector Harbans Singh conducted a raid at two pharmacies and godowns in Pindi street on Friday night and recovered intoxicating pills worth Rs 46.78 lakh which were without bills. Moreover, several pills had expired. The majority of the pills were that of tramadol.”

Sharma said, “Since the pharmacy has got the licence, we involved the zonal licensing authority (drugs), health department, in the raid. According to the law if a licensee pharmacist is held with pills without bills, he cannot be booked or arrested. The health department can take action only through a proper channel.”

Dinesh Gupta, zonal licensing authority (drugs), said, “The action will be taken under Sections 23-B (II) and 27- C of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act under which the accused can get a punishment of five to seven years with fine of Rs 1 lakh or three times higher than the recovery.”