A Kanpur court has rejected the anticipatory bail application of a man accused of being involved in the illegal trade of powerful prescription medicines, marking a significant development in a case that has raised serious public health concerns.
Court Rejects Bail Plea in Major Drug Trade Investigation
Additional District and Sessions Judge Azad Singh dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Anmol Gupta on Monday. Gupta is an accused in a case concerning the alleged illegal trading of Codeine, Tramadol, and Alprazolam medicines. The judge's order paves the way for his potential arrest as the police investigation continues.
Raid and FIR Unveil Alleged Illegal Operation
The case came to light after Drug Inspector Om Pal Singh conducted a raid on November 24 at M/s Medicina Health Care. The raid targeted the firm and its partners, Anmol Gupta and Shivam Agarwal. Following the raid, an FIR was lodged at the Collectorganj police station, alleging the firm was engaged in the illegal trade of Codeine-based medicine.
Investigations revealed that the firm's activities were under scrutiny much earlier. On June 28, the Assistant Commissioner (Drug) had inspected the premises in the presence of Anmol Gupta. The inspection reportedly observed that the firm was actively buying and selling Codeine, Tramadol, and Alprazolam.
Arguments in Court and Judge's Reasoning
In his bail application, Anmol Gupta contended that his firm's license was cancelled on September 4. He alleged that the FIR filed on November 24 was fabricated and expressed fear of arrest despite claiming innocence.
Opposing the bail, Assistant District Government Counsel (ADGC) Vinod Tripathi presented grave arguments. He stated that the medicines purchased and sold by the accused were being misused as narcotics. Tripathi further highlighted a severe consequence, alleging that the misuse of Codeine had led to the deaths of many children in several states. He argued that due to the seriousness of the crime, this was not a fit case for granting bail.
Judge Azad Singh, in his order, noted several key points. He emphasized that the investigation is still ongoing. The order stated that no evidence had emerged to suggest that any attempt to arrest the accused was meant solely to cause him physical or mental harm. The judge pointed out that the charges invoked in the case are punishable by life imprisonment and found no grounds to grant anticipatory bail. Consequently, the application was dismissed.
The case underscores the ongoing crackdown on the illicit trade of prescription drugs in India, a trade with devastating societal impacts.
