New Delhi – The Delhi High Court on Friday quashed the criminal complaint lodged against former cricketer and current India cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir and his foundation regarding the alleged unauthorized stocking and distribution of the antiviral drug Fabiflu during the peak of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021.
A bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna pronounced the verdict, stating simply, “Complaint case quashed.” A detailed copy of the judicial order is currently awaited.
📅 Background of the Case
- The Complaint: The Delhi Drugs Control Department registered the complaint in July 2021 after a division bench of the High Court directed an inquiry into individuals stocking and distributing essential Covid-19 medicines without authorization.
- Accused Parties: The complaint was filed against Gautam Gambhir, his mother Seema Gambhir, his wife Natasha Gambhir, the Gautam Gambhir Foundation, and its CEO, Aprajita Singh.
- Violations Cited: The complaint cited offenses under Section 18(c) (prohibiting the sale or distribution of drugs without a license) read with Section 27(b)(ii) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, which carries a penalty of imprisonment and a fine.
- Trial Court Summons: On July 26, the trial court had summoned Gambhir to appear, prompting him to move the High Court seeking the quashing of both the summons and the underlying complaint.
🛡️ Gambhir’s Defence
In his petition before the High Court, Gautam Gambhir argued that the complaint was unjustifiable because:
- He had distributed the medicines free of cost to those in need, without any profit motive.
- His family members were named in the complaint without cause.
The Drugs Control Department had opposed his plea, arguing that a trial was “imperative to determine the veracity of the allegations” and that Gambhir had approached the High Court directly without exhausting lower court options. The High Court had initially stayed the trial proceedings in September 2021, but that stay was later vacated in April of this year.