‘Book those who threatened Adar Poonawalla’

Adar Poonawalla

The filing of a petition in the Bombay High Court seeking action against those who allegedly threatened Serum Institute of India's Adar Poonawalla has raised many eyebrows. The petition follows Poonawalla's claim in a British publication that he was "threatened" by the powerful, and pressured to give out-of-turn vaccine doses.

Advocate Pradeep Havnur is representing Mane

Advocate Datta Mane and his representative advocate Pradeep Havnur, said they filed the petition to "call attention to Poonawalla's plight and the reason for his so-called flight to London."

The two have sought the registration of a First Information Report (FIR), and a full probe against all those who allegedly threatened Poonawalla. "Poonawalla has said he was threatened by the who's who in this country. This is shocking and unacceptable."

When told that Poonawalla would have filed a complaint if he saw fit, and asked why he had to step in, Havnur said, "Criminal law can be set in motion by anybody in
this country."

Datta Mane, petitioner

Mane added, "I had filed a complaint with the Pune police commissioner and the Maharashtra director-general of police, after which I have filed this petition. We have to see this in perspective. The Poonawallas are making a life-saving drug or vaccine, and Adar Poonawalla is India's saviour. Today, he has left the country because of threats to his life, and if his absence continues, our situation is going to become like a ship sailing in stormy seas without a captain at the helm."

Mane, who is originally from Sangli, but now lives in Kanjurmarg, said Poonawalla is right up there in the pantheon of gods of India. "He got ‘Y' category security, but that was given after he left the country. What use is it now?" he asked. "For too long now in this country, people have been intimidated by big names, the so-called powerful in whatever field. We must change this culture."