As per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, remdesivir, an investigational drug, can only be distributed by the manufacturer to licensed distributors, stockists, or Covid hospitals. Two persons, including a 25-year-old nurse at a private hospital, have been arrested from Dwarka for allegedly stealing Remdesivir injections from the hospital and selling them illegally at a high price.
DCP (Dwarka) Santosh Kumar Meena said, “We have arrested Priyanka (25), who has been working as staff nurse in Mata Roop Rani Maggo Hospital in Uttam Nagar for the last three years, and her associate Naveen Gulia (31), who used to work at the same hospital as a technician.”
Meena said their special team received information on April 28 that one person was selling Remdesivir injections in Najafgarh area. “Our team verified the details and came to know about Priyanka. A trap was laid after sending decoy customers and the duo were arrested. Six Remdesivir injections were recovered from the possession of Priyanka and two from Naveen,” he added.
During questioning, Priyanka said she was stealing injections from the hospital to earn quick money. “She roped in Naveen and asked him to sell the injections in the market. They initially sold it for Rs 22,000 and were currently selling it for Rs 35,000 when we arrested them,” an officer said.
In a recent meeting, all 15 DCPs and units of the crime branch were directed by senior officers from PHQ to take appropriate legal action against black marketing of drugs.
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