Vigilance cites manpower crunch in probe into 275-kg spurious drugs case
Baddi Industrial are photo used for indicative purpose only
Shimla, Sept 8
Himachal Pradesh High Court has taken note of the State Vigilance Bureau’s inability to effectively investigate allegations surrounding the manufacture and sale of 275 kg of spurious drugs, with the agency citing shortage of manpower and lack of domain knowledge as major constraints.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Chirag Bhanu Singh, hearing a public interest petition in Anmol Singh Rana vs State of Himachal Pradesh and others, observed that the State had already proceeded against the directors of the concerned respondents through a complaint.
According to the complaint placed before the court, the respondents allegedly failed to disclose the sale record of 275 kg of spurious drug Explotab and manufactured a huge quantity of spurious drug material for sale and distribution without a licence. The alleged violations attracted provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
The matter, however, assumes wider significance as a representation filed before the authorities alleged wrongful supply of raw material used in medicines, fraud, forgery, use of false identity and criminal conspiracy involving the alleged sale of more than 27-28 tonnes of pharmaceutical ingredients. The representation also sought investigation into the alleged illicit money generated and the extent of GST evasion.
The court noted that the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau had expressed its helplessness in looking into the allegations because of limited resources, including manpower, besides lack of domain knowledge regarding the functioning of the Revenue Department.
The court issued notices to the private respondents and directed the State to file its reply. The matter has been listed for October 7, 2026.
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