Mumbai Crime: Paramedic, medical student and MR held for selling Remdesivir illegally

A vial of Remdesivir. Pic/ AFP

A paramedic, a medical student and a medical representative (MR) were arrested in Kandivli for allegedly selling Remdesivir injections for Rs 20,000 each in the black market.

As per Malwani police, the MR procured the injections from the pharmacy of a suburban hospital while his co-accused sold it at a higher price in black, stated a report in The Times of India.

Earlier this week, an informant told police earlier that a paramedic known to him was offering Remdesivir injections at Rs 20,000 each while their actual price is Rs 5,400. The paramedic had allegedly suggested to the informant that he could re-sell it at a higher rate and make his own commission. Malwani police immediately informed Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and a trap was laid at Charkop Naka in Kandivli on April 13.

Around 7.30 pm, the paramedic, identified as Rizwan Mansuri, 32, arrived at the location with a student, Siddharth Yadav, 21. The police's informant reached there with Rs 60,000 in cash to make the purchase. "Mansuri gave over three Remdesivir injections to the informant while Yadav accepted the cash. Our team and the FDA team took the two men into custody," said investigating officer Rakesh Pawar.

Probe revealed that Yadav is a medical student based in Kandivli and comes from a family of doctors.He told the police that he had procured the injections through MR Chiranjeevi Vishwakarma, 28, employed with a pharma company.

Police made Yadav call Vishwakarma for a meeting. When he arrived, police took him in custody. "Through his academic background, Yadav had come into contact with Mansuri and Vishwakarma, both of whom are Kandivli residents," said senior inspector Shekhar Bhalerao, Malwani police.

The MR told officials he had presented a COVID-19 patient's health report, his Aadhar card and a doctor's prescription for purchasing the three Remdesivir injections from the pharmacy of Hayyat Hospital, Malwani. Investigation is on with Vishwakarma to find out how he procured the health report and doctor's prescription. The three were booked under IPC, Essential Commodities Act, Drugs (Prices Control) Order and Drugs and Cosmetics Act.