NILESH BALWANTRAO UKUNDE Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) On the backdrop of the earlier orders passed on this batch of Public Interest Litigations, we have heard the learned Counsel for the parties.

(2.) At the outset, Mr.Kumbhakoni, learned Advocate General states that although there is a direction in the earlier order for an affidavit to be placed on record by the State Government on issues as referred to in the said order, however such affidavit could not be finalised as complete information and documents in that regard were not received by his office. Mr.Kumbhakoni, hence, has requested that time be extended upto 24 June 2021 to enable the State Government to file such affidavit. We accept such request of Mr.Kumbhakoni.

(3.) Mr.Kumbhakoni has however made submissions on certain issues raised by us in our earlier orders. The first issue addressed by him is in regard to our observations in the order dated 12 May 2021, whereby we had called upon the State Government as also the Central Government to look into the grievances as made before us by the petitioners that some political and film personalities have indulged in the supply of the drug Remdesivir, when such supply could not have been undertaken by any private persons, as the distribution of the drug was completely within the domain of the Central Government and the State Government. In this context, Mr.Kumbhakoni has stated that two persons namely Mr.Zeeshan Siddique and Mr.Sonu Sood had attempted to make such drug available as seen from social media. In so far as Mr.Zeeshan Siddique is concerned, it is stated that he made this drug available from one BDR Foundation, which is a registered public trust of which Mr.Dharmesh Shah is a trustee, who is associated with BDR Pharmaceuticals. Mr.Kumbhakoni has stated that a criminal case is registered against BDR foundation and its trustees before the Court of Metropolitan Magistrate at Mazgaon.