Kerala - Kochi   

Department starts probe into drug seizure

KOCHI: The Drug Control Department started investigation into the seizure of unauthorised drugs from the office of the Chemists and Druggists Association.

The raid on the office of the Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association here on Monday revealed that it had been making an unauthorised collection of about Rs.10 lakh a month from drug manufacturers, officials of the Drugs Control Department said.

A case has been registered against it under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and also the Drugs Price Control Order under the Essential Commodities Act. The raid followed a complaint by Consumerfed, Maveli and Neethi stores that the association was not allowing their fair-price shops to sell some life-saving drugs.

The medicines and documents seized were produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate.

Also, the documents and medicines seized from the office and house of A.N. Mohana Kurup, State president of the All-Kerala Chemists’ and Druggists’ Association (AKCDA) and All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), were produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate, Thrissur.

Complaint will be lodged after verifying the source for drugs seized and their purchase invoice, said V.N. Raveendran, Assistant Drug Controller, Ernakulam.

Meanwhile, the district branch of Crime Branch clarified that they have not been handed over the case regarding unauthorised storage of drugs, contrary to the news that appeared in the media.

The district branch has started investigations on the case related to a person being arrested for forging bills for purchase of tar from Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited Kochi Refineries.

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