SP under lens in Remdesivir black-marketing case in city

Ranchi:The superintendent of police (Ranchi rural), Naushad Alam, has come under the scanner of the crime investigation department (CID) of the state police in the black marketing of emergency use drug Remdesivir in the capital city. Alam has, however, defended himself saying he was only helping patients who approached him.
Meanwhile, the CID said after interrogation of the key accused in the smuggling ring, Rajiv Singh, who was arrested a week ago with a few vials of the drug from an area near the Raj Bhavan after a tip-off, Alam's name surfaced.
During his questioning along with a few other suspects, Singh reportedly told the investigators that Alam played a role in selling Remdesivir and oxygen flow meters at higher prices to needy patients.
According to Singh, the medicine was procured for a person known as Guddu whose mother was suffering from Covid and being treated at the Alam Nursing Home.
Official sources said Alam's bodyguard Rajiv Kumar Pandey and driver Sahabuddin have also named the SP in two cases. While Pandey said he contacted Singh for the injection at the direction of Alam, Sahabuddin said he met Singh on April 25. Singh then asked Pandey to meet one Rakesh Ranjan on Kanke road. Later, Singh also told Pandey to visit the Medicine Point shop at Argora which was owned by Ranjan.
Pandey paid Rs 20,000 to the chemist for the injection and handed it over to Guddu at Alam Nursing home. He also collected the same amount from Guddu.
In another case, the SP asked his driver to buy an oxygen flow meter for an oxygen cylinder for another patient. Sahabuddin said he picked up Singh from Kanke and another person from near the state guest house and went to the same shop to buy the oxygen flow meter for Rs 3,500.
Defending himself, Alam said, "Guddu was one of the numerous callers who approached me for help. My bodyguard searched for the medicine in the market but to no avail. He then approached Singh on his own and provided the medicine to Guddu."
He added, "I came to know about the transaction with the black marketer only after the questioning of Sahabuddin by the CID."
CID sources said it is yet to take a call on what steps would be taken up in the case after the SP's name surfaced.
Earlier on Monday, DGP Neeraj Sinha directed that the CID would supervise all cases of black marketing medical equipment in the state. He had said the cases could be investigated by local officers but under the supervision of the CID.
Additional director general (operation) R K Mallick said, “The decision has been taken to ensure uniformity in police action across the state.”
He said following a high court’s order, the police agencies are also gathering inputs regarding the sale of medical equipment, including beds, at higher prices, following which all SPs have been asked to take follow up action on the intelligence provided to them.