Blackmarketing of Remdesivir: Two sentenced to five years imprisonment

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL Sessions Judge P B Ghuge on Saturday sentenced Jyoti alias Jiya Uttam Singh Ajit (24) and Shubham Satyaniwas Arjunwar (24) to five years imprisonment after the charges of cheating and stealing Remdesivir injections to sell them in black market were proved against them. This is the second conviction by a city court against persons involved in stealing and black-marketing Remdesivir vials. Jyoti alias Jiya, a native of Sheoni, who is a nurse, had stolen Remdesivir vials from Gaikwad Hospital and Research Centre, Wardha Road and given them to Shubham for selling them to the needy at higher rates.

 

They were hoarding and blackmarketing medicines and drugs required for treatment of Covid-19 positive patients in violation of relevant Government notifications and orders. Five Remdesivir, Covifor and Desrem injections were recovered from Shubham near Wathoda Dahan Ghat on April 18, 2021. On the same day, Wathoda Police had registered an offence under Sections 420, 381, 188, 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Schedule 26 of Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013, Section 4, 7 of Essential Commodities Act, Section 18, 27 (2) of Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules against Jyoti alias Jiya and Shubham. PSI Y P Sahare, investigated the case under the supervision of Senior Police Inspector Ashalata Khapre and filed a chargesheet against them on May 3, 2021.

 

On June 23, 2021, the charge was framed against Jyoti alias Jiya and Shubham. As the charges under Section 420 of the IPC were substantiated against Shubham, the court sentenced him to five years imprisonment with a fine of Rs 5000, in default additional six months imprisonment. Similarly, the court convicted Jyoti alias Jiya and sentenced her to five years imprisonment for the offence under Section 420 of the IPC with a fine of Rs 5000. For the offence under Section 381 of the IPC, the court also sentenced her to five years imprisonment with a fine Rs 5000. If she failed to pay the fine, she would undergo additional six months imprisonment. Additional Public Prosecutor Jyoti Vajani represented the State.