Pharmacy store owner, Osmania hospital guard held for illegal sale of Remdesivir

Hyderabad: The sleuths of the commissioner's task force, south zone, along with the Afzalgunj police nabbed two persons, including a pharmacy store owner, who were illegally procuring and selling Remdesivir injections (Covifor) in the black market at prices ranging between Rs. 25,000-35,000. They also did not have any valid documents to sell the antiviral drug used in treating COVID-19 patients.

The police seized five Remdesivir injections and two cell phones from the accused who have been identified as Kiran Kumar(35) who runs a pharmacy store and Mohd. Khaled (23).

Two months ago, Kiran, a resident of Bhongir, had opened a medical store at Medipally in Boduppal. Due to the second wave of COVID-19, he observed that the demand for Remdesivir injections was high. Kiran hatched a plan to procure Remdesivir injections at low prices through known sources and sell them in the black market at a high price.

He procured the injections and asked Mohd. Khaled, a security guard at Osmania General Hospital, to find customers. Kiran started supplying Remdesivir injections to Khaled who then sold the same for Rs. 30,000 to needy customers.

On 17 May, based on credible information, the commissioner's task force, south zone team, and the Afzalgunj police apprehended Kiran and Khaled. The accused and the seized material were handed over to SHO Afzalgunj police for further investigation.