Probe roles of Siddique, Sonu Sood’s Trust in Remdesivir provide: HC

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Maharashra authorities to look at the function of MLA Zeeshan Siddique and actor Sonu Sood’s Trust, Sood Charity Foundation, in supplying Remdesivir with none licence.

Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbakoni advised a Division Bench of Justices S.P. Deshmukh and G.S. Kulkarni {that a} legal case was filed with the Mazgaon Magistrate in opposition to Mr. Siddique’s Trust, BDR Foundation, and the trustees who had been supplying #Remdesivir as they didn’t have licence. However, no case was registered in opposition to the Indian National Congress Party MLA as he had solely equipped.

The court docket then requested, “Why is the MLA not booked? Is it not a crime to procure and supply? Examine this before we pass an order.” The A-G mentioned, “I am only reporting the status. No case was reported against Mr. Siddique as he merely diverted those who approached him.”

The Bench requested, “So this happened at the instance of one person. Is directing someone not an offence?” The court docket requested the State to examine if the medicine which had been distributed by the trusts had been spurious or not. “It does not give a good impression that anyone can use social media and say that person is coming to your help. This may create a public perception that the government is doing everything and yet there is parallel agency.”

The court docket requested if initiating motion in opposition to the charitable belief was sufficient and will the State not look additional into the roles performed by Mr. Siddique, Mr. Sood and some other celebrities involved? “We would expect the State government to scrutinise their actions. We want you to very seriously examine their roles,” the court docket mentioned. “Since both were dealing directly with the public, was it possible for the public to ascertain the quality or source of these drugs?” it mentioned.