- 4 months ago
The Centre has blamed the Tamil Nadu government for cough syrup deaths. Sources have said that the Centre has blamed the Tamil Nadu FDA.
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00:00Hi there, I'm Sonal Merotra Kapoor. This is 5 Live here on India Today.
00:08On 5 o'clock, we bring you stories that matter.
00:11We have been covering the cough syrup story very, very closely
00:14because at 5 o'clock, we turn it into health o'clock.
00:18Bring you all the relevant stories that should matter.
00:21Let's get started with all the top stories of the day.
00:26Centre has blamed Tamil Nadu government now for cough syrup death.
00:29Sources have said that Centre has blamed the Tamil Nadu FDA.
00:34India Today obviously found lapses in the cold rift plant in Tamil Nadu's Kanchipuram.
00:39That's a big exclusive that we got you yesterday.
00:41Impact seen today and we will bring you a follow-up as well.
00:45Meanwhile, Vijay's aide, Aadhaav, has moved to Supreme Court on the Stampede Probe.
00:50Vijay's TVK has sought CK, the Supreme Court monitored probe.
00:55Victim's kin in Karoor Stampede has moved to Supreme Court.
00:59Meanwhile, seeking a CBI inquiry.
01:04Talking about inquiries, Aryan Khan vs. Vankhadeh.
01:08Legal war is now playing out not on Netflix, but actually in Delhi High Court.
01:13The High Court has issued summons in bands of Bollywood case.
01:16Vankhadeh says his wife is being trolled online because of the spoof of his that has been made in the Netflix series.
01:24Leadership wars are now haunting Tata group.
01:33Government now playing peacemaker in the Tata trouble.
01:36Government has asked Tata hauntors to restore stability.
01:40Tata Sun's chief, Noel Tata, met with Amit Shah.
01:44The latest twist in the Zubin Garg death case.
01:52Singha's cousin has now been arrested.
01:55Zubin's cop cousin has been arrested in the death probe.
01:59Cousin was present with Zubin in Singapore.
02:02What exactly is happening here?
02:04The ED heat on Malayalam's superstar father-son duo is heating up.
02:13ED has raided superstar Mahmuthi's property.
02:17The son there also raided in car smuggling case.
02:24Yet another case of another instance really of a blatant war mongering by Pakistan.
02:32Pakistan's defence minister, Asif, has now warned of another war with India.
02:38Says the chances of another war with India are real and that he's not denying the risks of conflict.
02:46In my UK PM is in India.
02:51Stammer actually visited Yash Raj film studio in Mumbai.
02:54And also the views, the Premier League trophy as he visited the youth football training centre there.
03:06News for Mumbai cars there as it gets ready for a whole new take-off.
03:10Prime Minister Modi has very recently, now in fact minutes ago,
03:14unveiled the second international airport for maximum city
03:18with capacity of handling 9 crore flyers and 3 million tonnes of cargo every year.
03:25The Navi Mumbai International Airport is one of the mega aviation landmarks of now.
03:30And fresh political tensions erupt in Tripura as the Trinamool Congress alleges its state headquarters
03:42in Gartala was vandalised by BJP Yuva Morcha activists.
03:47Incident deepens political divide after attack on BJP MP in North Bengal.
03:53The Cowset of Controversy is not just a massive medical crisis anymore.
04:12It has turned into a blame game with each stakeholder passing the buck.
04:17Remember, we warned you about all of that on day one,
04:20that there was nobody taking ownership and perhaps the reason why everybody in some form is to be blamed.
04:27And we need to get a bird's eye view on this crisis.
04:30Now, Shreesan Pharma, the manufacturer of the band Cold Rift Cuff Syrup,
04:34is under the scanner for over 350 lapses.
04:39Not one, not two.
04:41350 lapses that were found in India.
04:45And this is an investigative ground report number one that we are bringing on 5 Live to you.
04:50The centre has now blamed Tamil Nadu government in these lapses.
04:54Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh's Chindwara, which has seen at least 17 children fall prey to the alleged Cold Rift Cuff Syrup,
05:01they have sent a police team to the Shreesan Pharma plant as well to probe the factory and arrest the accused.
05:09At Shreesan Pharma, as they go on to face heat, the big question remains,
05:13how many more Cold Rifts are really out there waiting to happen?
05:19Stay with us as we bring you more on this unfolding story.
05:22This is our ground report number one.
05:24The Cold Rift Cuff Syrup continues to take the lives of more and more children in Madhya Pradesh.
05:36And as the story grows deadlier, the scandal is getting murkier.
05:40An India Today investigation blew the lid of shocking lapses at Shreesan Pharma,
05:47the Kanchipuram-based plant behind the now-banned syrup.
05:51Over 350 violations and a factory in absolute chaos.
05:56Inside the Shreesan Pharma plant, our cameras found the facility in shambles.
06:01Hazardous chemicals dumped carelessly, no ventilation and absence of basic waste management.
06:12Toxic solvents were stored under direct sunlight, a major safety red flag.
06:18Dust and debris covered the production floor.
06:21To just give you a glimpse of where the waste gets dumped.
06:25This is one of the containers where it's clearly written here, the waste tablets container.
06:30It's just openly dumped here.
06:32In fact, there are also fillers over here.
06:35The drip, which is used to drip the cough syrup.
06:38It's just openly placed over here.
06:40That's just very telling of the kind of lack of responsibility
06:44and lack in inventory management on part of this recent pharmaceuticals.
06:50The centre has now lashed out at the Tamil Nadu government over the lapses.
06:54Health Ministry sources have told India today that the TNFDA is responsible for ensuring checks and balances of a manufacturing unit
07:04and that the license to manufacture common formulation allopathic drugs is given by state drug controllers.
07:11Sources also said that the CDSCO has recommended that Shreesan Pharma's license be scrapped,
07:18but the cancellation too falls under the state's gambit.
07:21The cost of negligence in Madhya Pradesh has been that of 19 child deaths, 17 of them in Chindwara alone.
07:30A police team from Chindwara has been dispatched to probe the CSUN Pharma factory and arrest those associated.
07:37The cold drift cough syrup remains banned in Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.
08:02Now Telangana has banned two other cough syrups, relief and recipe fresh after detecting the presence of diethylene glycol,
08:10the same chemical that was found in the cold drift cough syrup manufactured by Shreesan Pharma.
08:15The plant's oversight is now under the scanner, but the regulatory system still lacks accountability for the lives lost.
08:22The cough syrup controversy is not just a massive medical crisis anymore.
08:28It has turned into a blame game with each stakeholder passing the buck.
08:34With Anaka Keshav, Bureau Report, India Today.
08:36All right, Anaka Keshav now joins us also live from Chennai.
08:45Anaka, firstly, congratulations on that fantastic reporting that you've done.
08:49We carried the story yesterday here on the program and just this morning we heard of action being taken.
08:56So kudos to you and the camera person who actually went there, discovered all those lapses and glad that it's been picked up.
09:01But the sad reality remains that right now we are looking at a ground reality, a check of sorts done by a news channel on one particular farmer companies.
09:13The fear still remains that there are so many like Shreesan that exist across states, across cities, and that's going to be our next story.
09:23But have you managed to speak to any authorities there, especially the government, to get a reaction from them on what the center is saying,
09:30on how it's solely, apparently, just the fault of the state?
09:34Well, in fact, Tamil Nadu's health minister, Mr. Maas Subramanyam, has spoken on this matter.
09:43He says that Tamil Nadu government is not responsible for giving out the drug license.
09:48In fact, I just want to read out to you what the health minister has said.
09:52He says that Tamil Nadu government did not procure the syrup.
09:55Shokho's notice was immediately issued to Shreesan Pharmaceutical Company and criminal action has been initiated.
10:02And a third point that the health minister makes is that he says that the Tamil Nadu government took immediate action and that the damage, further damage was averted, is what he says.
10:13Basically, he says the Tamil Nadu government is not really responsible for what Shreesan Pharmaceuticals did.
10:19The question still largely remains, you know, as to who actually issued drug license to Shreesan Pharmaceuticals.
10:2614 years back, they have obtained this particular license, but who was really responsible for handing out license to Shreesan Pharmaceuticals?
10:34The very cough syrup that they sold was mixed with lethal industrial solvent, diethylene glycol.
10:40The question largely remains, who actually approved a drug license for this particular pharmaceutical company?
10:47Yesterday, even when we went, you know, it was very hard for us to believe that medicines were being manufactured inside that plant.
10:53That's the kind of lowly conditions that we're talking about.
11:00Alright, in fact, that was a big breaking news that Anagar was also getting to us right now.
11:06The reaction that has come from the Union Health Ministry sources there, they are saying this is not a blame game from centre to state.
11:15But Tamil Nadu FDA is not taking action.
11:18The question that needs to be asked to Tamil Nadu FDA is why haven't they pressed criminal charges yet, despite the CDSCO's recommendation?
11:28Why is the license not cancelled, despite the DCGI's clear recommendation?
11:34Let's take that question directly to Anagar to understand that.
11:38Anagar, you were reading out one report on how the Tamil Nadu government has responded.
11:43Now we are hearing from the centre as well.
11:45The centre is saying this is not blame game, their very single pointed question here is, when there was a clear recommendation by the CDSCO to cancel their license, why wasn't that done?
11:57In fact, the health minister says that we have issued a show cause notice and based on what response gets furnished, based on that action will be taken and based on that we will press criminal charges is what Health Minister Maas Subramaniam says.
12:15In fact, making it very clear that at the moment we will not really press charges, but based on what reply is furnished by Srisen Pharmaceuticals to the show cause notice issued, we will then take criminal action, is what he says.
12:27In fact, an FIR has been filed by the Madhya Pradesh Police, an SIT is formed.
12:32They will be nabbing the owner of Srisen Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Ranganathan Govinder Rajan.
12:36But as to why is it the Tamil Nadu government has not filed any criminal charges, they are saying that we have issued a show cause notice on behalf of Tamil Nadu drugs control department and based on the response, in fact, they have allotted five days time to the pharmaceutical company to give a response and based on the answers furnished by them, criminal proceedings will take place is what Health Minister Maas Subramaniam has stated.
12:58Alright, so the Health Minister is saying in Tamil Nadu they need another five days to seek a response, but clearly Centre is not very happy with that.
13:05Milan Sharma is breaking that story and bringing us the perspective of what the Centre has to say here.
13:11Milan, go ahead, tell us what exactly is the lag, because as you just heard Anika bringing out the Tamil Nadu side of the story, she is basically saying that they have done their due diligence, they have given their five days to respond, but that's clearly not enough or is that generally not the protocol? Break it down.
13:28Well, you mentioned that you're talking about the lag. So the lag here is that for 14 years, the check was not done. This particular company was operating in a dingy space in Chennai, in Tamil Nadu, and that was not checked by the state drug regulator.
13:44Now that we know and we have enough evidence from the centre as well as the state authorities that DEG was in very high levels in cold drift cough syrup, manufactured by Sreeshan Pharmaceuticals, which is a Chennai-based company, why have the licenses not been revoked?
14:00The first thing is perhaps the government has come forward and said that the cold drift cough syrup has been banned for usage. So the cough syrup has been banned, the FIR has been filed by Madhya Pradesh state, there has been action taken at the centre level, why has the state of Tamil Nadu not cancelled their license as a first point?
14:20So this is what happens. And therefore, these pharmaceutical companies get away with a lot of things because the protocols and the salt combination approvals are taken in the state.
14:30Then these companies start selling the same salt combinations in other states saying that this particular state has given us an approval. So let us mark it over there. The deaths have happened in Madhya Pradesh. The pharmaceutical company belongs to Tamil Nadu.
14:45So the real question is the straight drug regulator of Tamil Nadu, despite knowing all the problems here, is still saying they're giving a show cause notice. What good is a show cause notice going to do now when the cough syrup has been banned, the company's license should be cancelled?
14:59But the centre also is not completely scot-free on this one, right? They also need to come out with what exactly were the guidelines and they should be the one taking the lead and sending those instructions pan India as well. But thanks Milan for bringing out all those details over there.
15:16So that's the big story that we've been breaking here on how earlier there was nobody taking ownership, then there seems to be a fight between state and centre, but clearly none of that is going to cut it. We'll tell you why.
15:26Remember it all started with headlines about killer cough syrups. Toxic, contaminated and fatal. Children lost their lives. Tragedy that shook the conscience of the country.
15:37But what if that was just the tip of the iceberg? Today we bring you a chilling investigation. One that uncovers how the rot runs far deeper than just a few rogue bottles.
15:52And it's not just cough syrups. It's antibiotics, it's painkillers, it's steroids, cardiac drugs and even everyday supplements.
16:02Medicines meant to heal are now turning into siren killers. Because across the country, particularly in Rajasthan, they failed to check drug samples.
16:13What's happening there? Drug samples are piling up and the system meant to protect us is simply looking the other way or perhaps exhausted, doesn't know what to do.
16:23Laboratories are flagging dangerous batches. Reports are being filed. But the law, which demands immediate court action and national recalls, is simply being ignored.
16:35What's worse, by the time authorities actually act, lakhs of these doses have already been consumed. They are already in our homes.
16:46From small pharma firms to some of India's biggest generic manufacturers, the failures are shocking and yet they continue to operate unchecked.
16:57The story is no longer about one particular syrup, about one particular pharma company. It is about a broken safety net in India's drug regulation.
17:08One that leaves every Indian vulnerable, every prescription a potential gamble.
17:15This is the investigative report that my colleague, Sharath Kumar has done from Jaipur.
17:20This is the unseen epidemic of fake and substandard drugs.
17:27Contaminated cough syrup killing children has made headlines.
17:42But the truth runs deeper.
17:45Every year, millions may be falling victim to counterfeit and substandard drugs.
17:51Rajasthan's Drug Control Department has unearthed a trail of shocking findings.
17:56Medicines that are meant to heal are in fact harming patients.
18:01When India today examined the department's working, it found labs conducting tests.
18:06Report being filed, but no action taken.
18:09The list is long and disturbing.
18:11Antibiotics.
18:15Six batches failed.
18:17Over one lakh tablets from Medirich Limited were sold before detection.
18:21Steroids saw three batches failing.
18:24Medieval Biotech sold 30,000 doses.
18:27Anti-allergic saw four batches failing.
18:29Theravine formulation sold 35,000 units.
18:32Anti-diabetics saw three batches failing.
18:35Relief Biotech sold 18,000 tablets.
18:37Three batches of painkillers failed.
18:39IPCA laboratory sold 20,000 of them.
18:42Eight batches of supplements failed.
18:45FE parenterals sold 40,000 units.
18:48Antacids saw three batches failing, of which 15,000 units were sold by Aristo Pharma.
18:53And two batches of cardiac drugs failed, out of which MX Pharma sold 10,000 tablets.
19:00So from stomach ache pills to ear drops, from injectables to vitamin syrups, some had missing salts, others were infected fluids.
19:07There are six samples.
19:09There are six samples.
19:10There are six samples.
19:11There are six samples.
19:12There are six samples.
19:13And we are still taking.
19:15We are still taking this.
19:16We are taking this.
19:17We are taking the rest of the liquid formulations in the field.
19:20It is an ongoing process.
19:22And when we find someone like this, we will inform you.
19:25If you find anything abnormal.
19:26Are these companies going to supply now?
19:28This is the look-out.
19:30But we have told that the look-out is put on hold 19 formulations that a company has made.
19:37What to do next, they will take a call.
19:42By law, every failed sample must lead to a court case.
19:46By rule, every report must be escalated to the Central Drug Laboratory in Kolkata for a nationwide ban.
19:52But none of that happened.
19:54Instead, reports gathered dust until the state's drug controller himself was suspended.
19:59This is hardly any disease left for which,
20:04we are also sending the DCDI to the DCDI.
20:06We have created the regulatory groups.
20:11Immediately, if there is a spurious declaration,
20:16or an adulteration,
20:18it will circulate in our groups.
20:20And it will be done on the basis of all places.
20:23It will be together.
20:24There is hardly any disease left for which fake or substandard medicines have not been caught.
20:32Yet, the government response remains low and fragmented.
20:35By the time a ban is imposed,
20:37lax have already swallowed the risk.
20:39So while we worry about contaminated cough syrups,
20:42the truth is the problem is much bigger.
20:45From antibiotics to painkillers,
20:47fake medicines are finding their way to your cabinet.
20:50And until India fixes its drug control system,
20:53every pill could be a potential gamble with life.
20:59With Sharad Kumar in Jaipur,
21:01Bureau Report, India Today.
21:11And more updates on that story is now coming in Rajasthan.
21:14Rajasthan is now to probe all the fake medicines in 15 days.
21:19This is the big impact that is coming in of the story that we've just aired for you.
21:24Rajasthan's Drug Controller Commission has said that an officer who was in charge for the investigation has now been suspended.
21:31And prima facie, this appears intentional.
21:35Something that our colleague Sharath has been saying from the very beginning.
21:39And let's bring him on now.
21:41Sharath,
21:43The government has told us that all the samples will be tested in 15 days.
21:53What does this mean?
21:54Is it just cough syrups or the rest of the samples?
21:57Is it cough syrups?
21:59Is it cough syrups?
22:00Is it cough syrups?
22:01We are also as a cough syrups.
22:02And there are others that have also been tested in the last year's.
22:04The cough syrups?
22:05We have seen these samples.
22:06Let's see how many samples are in the past year's.
22:10The cough syrups are in the last few months.
22:12And there is a cough syrups.
22:14The cough syrups is still being tested in the morning of a year.
22:16We are also being stalked and when we have checked, there are 290 samples that have failed.
22:29These are life-threatening drugs.
22:33They are hidden.
22:36foreign
23:06I am taking a meeting of a drug controller.
23:08This is really shocking that after this spurious and fake drug,
23:14there is no work done.
23:16This is a very dangerous situation.
23:18And we are taking it very seriously.
23:20We have all the states, where there are factories,
23:24we have to send it to them.
23:26And what can be done?
23:28The center is also written.
23:30We have less, but we have said that in 15 days,
23:34this woman can be made because of that space.
23:38That's what we can use.
23:40That is our intention.
23:42So that the company has such a drug,
23:46it will be hard to convince you
23:48that it is not not salty.
23:50If you think that it is an acidity drug is not salty,
23:54it is not salty.
23:56Or there is no salt than it is,
23:58or it is not salty.
24:00It is not a palate,
24:02So, this is a very difficult situation in Rajasthan, and there was no work in it.
24:16So, this is a very good report that you have released. Thank you so much.
24:21This is a very instant reaction. You have given the authorities that this report has got, why don't you take action?
24:31And Rajasthan seems to be one place and one state which is going beyond the cough syrups now.
24:41But is that something that all of India we need to look at?
24:44And that's something where I want to bring in our guests now. Dr. Nihar Parikh is with us, Dr. Sanjeev Bagai as well.
24:50Dr. Bagai, you know, we've been speaking about these cough syrup stories for a while now.
24:55And I really want to say this, that since day one, we said this, that this is just the tip of the iceberg.
25:02Now, Rajasthan is one example where you're seeing the story go beyond cough syrups.
25:08You're seeing them question that why aren't the drug controllers, who are supposed to be your eyes and ears on the ground,
25:14who are supposed to be your safety mesh, your safety net to ensure that it doesn't reach our homes.
25:20They're just sitting on these files when they already know that they have failed it.
25:24So clearly, it's a nexus. It's a case of corruption that has costed lives.
25:28Would you say now is the time to actually understand and go deep into the entire world of generics?
25:36You know, I say this because let's just put this in context for our viewers.
25:42Advisory after advisory by the government, and Nihar Parikh also, you know, chime in right after that,
25:48keep saying that, you know, doctors should not be prescribing brands for different reasons, of course.
25:53Doctors should be prescribing generics to ensure it's affordable, to ensure that you are not in some way
26:02sort of favoring a particular brand. But stories like these, do they make you change your mind?
26:09Good evening. I think the first and foremost, I think all our prayers, the entire nation's prayers and condolences
26:17for the families who've lost their small children and infants. This is an absolute horror story.
26:23Unacceptable under any set of circumstances. There is a failure. It's a serial failure.
26:28It's a systemic failure at various levels. And somehow or the other, anyone who has a government job should not take it for granted
26:35that he's got a passport to luxury till he retires and post-retirement benefits.
26:39I think if someone is not performing, that person has to be axed.
26:42I would request the government of India right to the PMO to take out an iron hammer and pin down the people who are responsible.
26:50If it's the drug controller who's taking the responsibility, then the accountability must end with him.
26:56So if we need to change the gentleman, then so be it. Point number two, we need more number of our manpower.
27:01We are grossly short of supervisors and manpower on the ground. And this will be known for the last 10 years.
27:06This is not a new story. So why is the deficiency of the resources still existing on the ground?
27:12Three is all the units who are performing with substandard drugs or adulterations or without safety measures or without what we call as quality control audits.
27:22They have to be stopped for life. These people cannot function under any circumstances.
27:27Lastly, there is a law. Now who's going to implement the law? Under the new law of BSN, we know that there is a punishment of imprisonment up to life plus a punitive financial damage.
27:40Lock up the people who are the owners of the pharmaceutical companies for life.
27:45Set two examples ban India and you'll see how the rest of these people will fall in line.
27:50With regards to the use of drugs, I am never in favor of any pharmaceutical company and I'm very proud of that.
27:59But the quality which is coming through any pharmaceutical company has to be authentic.
28:06Otherwise, we will lose patients and we may continue to lose precious lives. Over to you.
28:11Yeah. Dr. Parikh, you know India has been such a shining example of affordable healthcare.
28:18We pride ourselves in saying that, you know, this is one thing India has really cracked for a population of our size and one as diverse economically as we are as a nation.
28:28Yet here we are, perhaps for the first time saying, at what cost? What quality really?
28:35So Sonal, it all boils down to, see, we as an Indian healthcare system is focused with the doctor at the fulcrum of everything, at the center of everything.
28:49And the trust begins and ends with the doctor. And when it comes to your child, the pediatrician or your family physician is the whole and soul of the entire healthcare.
29:00Now that's a lot of responsibility on one person. So when you pick your doctor, the doctor needs to make sure that he's giving the best to your child.
29:09When it comes to clinical diagnosis, when it comes to treatment, and when it comes to drugs.
29:14Now, when it comes to drugs, we take sole responsibility of writing brands down. Why? Because we know these companies who have been making these syrups and tablets for years.
29:26It has come down through our training. We've met these company people, they have explained them, explained us their making processes, they've explained us their clearances, their studies done.
29:38And when we know with all this information that these companies are valid, that's when we write a particular brand.
29:46Now, what is happening is there was a big hullabaloo or promotional push towards generic medicine, rightly so.
29:54But when the generics are non-trustworthy, and this is what happens when non-trustworthy medications, which small companies try and for their profit margins to go up,
30:05use substandard pharmaceutical, instead of using pharmaceutical forms of those derivatives, use industrial forms, this is what is bound to happen.
30:15So I tell all the patients that we have studied the companies that make these drugs, we have hands-on experiences with years of connections and relations, not financial, but of trust.
30:28Yeah, but Dr. Padik, if I have to be honest, I have to say this. You know, we do know of doctors who prescribe only particular kind of drugs.
30:38We do know of doctors whose drugs and the brands that they prescribe are only found in the chemist shop near them.
30:46We know why that happens. I've been in covering health for a while to know the truth, even from the doctor's side.
30:53So I'm just finding it very hard to determine which way do we go? Do we trust the generics? Which is the right intention to do?
31:00But nobody is doing checks there. This has to be centrally governed. And then equally there need to be checks on the side of the doctors as well.
31:10Getting kickbacks, having MRs outside of your clinic is a reality of a day. Let's not deny that.
31:15That's a fact. But MRs are not, medical representatives are not just for kickbacks. They are also there to explain the new drug launches.
31:25They're also there to explain which drug is working well. They're also there to explain you what studies have been done under these drugs for them to come out of the market.
31:35When we cross question them about the cost, they have valid explanations why certain brands are costing more than other brands.
31:42See, look, in every profession, you are going to find those few bad apples who ruin the rest for everybody.
31:48But my end goal and my message, Sonal, is please trust your doctor because your doctor is not there out there to harm your child.
31:57Your doctor does tremendous amount of research before prescribing drugs. Yes, there are few in every profession who spoil it for the other ones, who tarnish the name of those guys who are doing a good and a sincere job with their work.
32:11So now, till the government doesn't raise its bar, doesn't provide us good quality checks on the generic meds, we are left with very few options because the last thing we want is such unnecessary deaths in those absolute harmless children who have done nothing wrong and those parents whose only intention was to treat their sick child.
32:32Dr. Bhagai, this really worries me. And I'll tell you why. Because on one hand, I get it. It's easy to say trust your doctor. Perhaps it's easier for us to say this sitting in metros, informed citizen, perhaps one watching this show today, people like you, people like me, will question our doctors. We are on the other extreme.
32:57We go and say, well, you know, Chad GPT is telling us this about a medicine. Why did you prescribe? But there's a reality of an alternate India, right, where they're going to the Oshidi Kendra, where they are getting a fantastic program, where they get medicines for free by the government under the prescription.
33:15But if there is no control on the quality of those drugs, then what is the point of this program? I'm just trying to say, where is the end responsibility here? Where does the buck stop? If we are to go ahead with affordable health care, it cannot come at the cost of lives. Who is to be looked at here? Clearly not the drug controller alone.
33:37So, you know, for many years, everyone has been talking about affordable, accessible and accredited health care. And for me, the last word is most important. The accreditation, that means standardization, that means evidence based medicine, that means quality of health care, that means safety of patient first.
33:57At a very large level, at a very large level, and I'll talk more from an administrative point of view and a clinical point of view, and actually at a spiritual level. Doctors have to self-educate themselves. A degree 20 years back does not hold that good right now.
34:14Medicine is not like any other profession. And I've said this to every person who's joining in medicine. You want to make a lot of money, do some other business.
34:22You have to feel for the patient. Patient is a living soul. A patient is a person who comes to you in pain. He's come with trust. We cannot betray that trust. So self-education is extremely important. Point number two is doctors are, as it is, over-regulated.
34:38So I don't think we need more regulation on the doctors. But the doctors and pharma companies, if there is any evidence which has been found, I'm using the word if, because 99.9% of the doctors are really good.
34:53But if there is any evidence found of any doctor taking anything in cash or kind, or in any other sponsorship or endorsement, that person's license to practice for life should be cancelled. Straight away, there should be zero tolerance towards nonsense.
35:10Point number three, I would urge and beg the government straight to the PMO, have more people on the ground for quality checks of all pharmaceutical manufacturing outlets.
35:20Absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely. Couldn't agree more with you. Dr. Parekh, quickly coming to you for a last word over there.
35:29In this fight against affordable healthcare versus brands, generics versus brands, the thing with, and I'm basically questioning my own story here,
35:41to say, is that really, is that, is that, is that really the story that we should be looking at? Or should we continue to question, push,
35:50and get more answers from the government to say that checks were your responsibility?
35:56Getting the right doctor is perhaps mine. I mean, I'm here making checklist on what you should be checking on your ingredient list of a cough syrup.
36:04That should not be my job. That should be the job of the government.
36:10You're absolutely correct, Sonal. So, the last, see, bringing up a child today in today's environment with multiple sicknesses,
36:16sicknesses that were, there are 10 times more than what used to be 10 years ago, vaccines, which are 10 times more,
36:22which used to be 20 years ago. I think a parent has a lot, a lot on their plates.
36:28On top of that, you know, having one more thing to deal with is, are the medications safe? Are the prescriptions correct?
36:44All right. We seem to have lost that line with Dr. Parikh, but it's a good time to thank both of them for bringing in their perspective.
36:51Dr. Bagai and Dr. Parikh, thank you both for joining us with your perspective. Clearly, not the last,
36:57and what I can promise is that we will not let go of the story. Just like the medical profession,
37:03the journalism profession also has to be held to higher standards, and we'll try and keep our end of the bargain over there.
37:09So, what happens when a hit show becomes courtroom fodder? The curious case of Sameer Vankhari, of course.
37:16So, what's the latest here?
37:17The Delhi High Court has now issued summons to Netflix, Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chili Entertainment,
37:22and others in the defamation suit filed by RS, the officer there, Sameer Vankhari.
37:27The suit challenges his portrayal in the Netflix series, The Bads of Bollywood, directed by Aryan Khan,
37:33alleging it has accused defamatory online trolling against him and his wife.
37:39Now, Vankhari's lawyer said that an amendment application was filed, and the case falls under Delhi's jurisdiction.
37:46He adds that the series caused defamatory online trolling of Vankhari and his wife.
37:52What is he seeking?
37:54Two crores in damages, which he intends to donate to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital.
37:59The suit also requests permanent injunctions against the production house and others,
38:04aiming to halt the alleged false and malicious content in the series.
38:09The context here, well, that matters, right?
38:12The officer who arrested Aryan Khan in 2021 is now himself under the CBI investigation for alleged bribery
38:19and currently stands suspended from service.
38:21Meanwhile, The Bads of Bollywood remains a streaming giant with over 4.5 million views in India last week,
38:29making it Netflix's most watched original series in the country.
38:33So, a powerful show, a controversial figure, and a courtroom clash, a face wash,
38:39and clearly a face off thereover, which is far from over.
38:46Let's try and understand the story a little bit more in detail, and let me bring in our reporters.
38:52Joining us is Devesh Singh, live from Mumbai.
38:58Also, Sana will be joining us in just a bit.
39:01Devesh, looking at the backdrop of the story, and you've covered it quite a bit in detail,
39:07where does this leave the current investigation?
39:10When it came out, I think one of the most popular things,
39:15and perhaps why Bads of Bollywood was called so gutsy,
39:19is the fact that he could take on his past,
39:22he could take on Sameer Vankhede without naming him or the agency.
39:26But clearly everybody knew, right?
39:35Well, the case began in October 2021.
39:38Remember the Cruz drugs case,
39:41where Aryan Khan and his friend were arrested.
39:44Aryan Khan, remember, I am pointing this out again.
39:47Aryan Khan was arrested, placed under arrest.
39:51He was booked for conspiracy under Section 27 of NDPS,
39:56which is a very stringent section.
39:58NCB had also leveled allegations that he was part of an international drug syndicate.
40:05Remember, again, Aryan Khan was not carrying any kind of drugs.
40:10Despite that, he was arrested.
40:12He was placed under arrest.
40:13He was booked.
40:15He was remanded to NCB custody.
40:17And then he had to remain in jail as well.
40:19Finally, he did not get bail from the magistrate court,
40:22did not get bail from the sessions court.
40:25Finally, he got bail from the Bombay High Court.
40:28Now, what happened after that?
40:30After that, there were series of allegations.
40:35Rather, then, NCP leader Nawab Malik brought to light a witness who was also a witness of Narcotics Control Bureau,
40:46where the witness, his name was Prabhakar Sahil.
40:49And he said how the complete trap was set, how Samir Vankhede and his team, including another witness, Gosavi,
40:58who is seen holding Aryan Khan and bringing him to the NCB office,
41:02taking a selfie with Aryan Khan inside the NCB office,
41:05how they were made to go for the raid,
41:07how Aryan Khan was asked to call his father, message his father, contact his father by Gosavi.
41:15And remember, there was a very serious allegation.
41:18A demand of 18 crores to be paid by the witness,
41:22to be paid so that Aryan Khan could go scot-free.
41:25Also that night, rupees 50 lakhs,
41:28Pooja Dadlani, who is Shah Rukh Khan's manager and associate,
41:32she paid 50 lakhs to some people who were associated with this Gosavi,
41:37this Prabhakar Sahil and one more person.
41:41There were 50 lakhs that were received and that was caught on CCTV.
41:44Even Mumbai police started investigation on that,
41:48how all this was carried out, how the money was received.
41:51They also recorded multiple people's statements.
41:53After that, after all these things came to light,
41:57regarding bribery allegations, regarding lapses, regarding irregularities,
42:02there was an internal inquiry conducted by the Narcotics Control Bureau itself.
42:07And in that inquiry, Kyaneshwar Singh found out
42:12that there were multiple irregularities on part of Sameer Vankhede.
42:16There were allegations of corruption against Sameer Vankhede.
42:20There were allegations of holidays being paid by someone else.
42:25There were allegations of watches worth 20 lakh rupees or even more than that being gifted to him.
42:32That's a good background there, Devesh, that you've brought in.
42:36Yeah, that's a good, very good background.
42:38But we spoke with, in the other day, spoke with Sameer Vankhede to try and understand
42:43what were his intentions with this petition.
42:47What is he trying to go after?
42:48Because the show has already been watched by people.
42:51This is what he said.
42:52My wife, my sister, my family, they have nothing to do with some kind of incidents,
43:02what I do, what I don't do, basically.
43:05They are women and nothing related to my job.
43:07But unfortunately, not even trolls, they are facing hate mail threats
43:11from even countries like Pakistan, from countries like UAE.
43:15And surprisingly, I mean, nothing absolutely has to do with my job or with anything like that.
43:21But nonetheless, this is a bad to the issue.
43:25This is a very smaller issue.
43:26But here I am fighting for the rights of the law enforcement officers
43:30who are giving their life to the nation.
43:33They are fighting against the serious issues like drugs.
43:36They are giving blood to the nation.
43:38They cannot be mocked.
43:39They cannot be lampooned.
43:40They cannot be humiliated like that.
43:42Whatever my stand is, I have mentioned that before the Honorable High Court.
43:46And whatever evidence is, whatever is there, I will produce that before the Honorable High Court.
43:50My say, let them do whatever, I mean, let them come up with their say
43:54or something like that for the Honorable Judiciary to decide.
43:58Sameer Banker is saying that officers like him cannot be mocked and lampooned in this manner.
44:04But what exactly will be Netflix's reply now or strategy also to begin with?
44:08Sana, Farzeen now joins us for more on this.
44:11And we still have Devesh here.
44:12Sana, what exactly do we have an idea of what Netflix,
44:16what Retchley's response to court will be on this?
44:20Right now, they're all maintaining a no-comment stance
44:23that usually we hear when there's a legal battle going on.
44:27But as of now, they will definitely state to the court
44:30that this was a fictional show.
44:32And as in most shows,
44:34the disclaimer that comes up before any project,
44:38any piece of content airs,
44:39is that all characters in this series or in this films are fictional
44:43and any resemblance is purely coincidental.
44:47But Sana, it's not fictional, is it?
44:49The reference is pretty clear.
44:52It is definitely.
44:53But what R.N. has gone through,
44:55and I think what you were rightly speaking about,
44:57is the show is being talked about
44:59is because he's taken on
45:01every incident that has happened in his life
45:04and whatever we feel happens in Bollywood
45:06in a very gutsy and bold manner.
45:09Definitely, he's gone ahead and spoken about
45:11nepotism, about exclusive contracts
45:13that kind of kills actors' career.
45:16And definitely, the relationship that people share,
45:19which is all friendly and all loving
45:21in front of the camera.
45:23But there's so much of animosity behind the screen.
45:27So you're basically saying
45:28their response could be
45:30that he's not just mocking Vankade,
45:32he's actually mocked
45:34the first family of Bollywood.
45:36His own father has mocked himself.
45:38He's mocked the entire industry.
45:40So where is this argument really coming from?
45:42And the industry seems to be okay.
45:43That's the nature of the series that has been made.
45:47Well, interesting.
45:47Let's see where this goes
45:48and we'll keep a track of that story.
45:51Thank you, Devesh and Sana
45:52for joining us with the very latest on that.
45:54But that's not the only thing.
45:55Glittering at the moment.
45:57Gold is glittering
45:58like never before.
45:59Prices have hit a historic high
46:01crossing 1.22 lakh per 10 grams.
46:04The record surge comes just a week
46:06before Dhanteris and Diwali
46:08when gold buying traditionally
46:10sort of spikes across the country.
46:12Driven by global uncertainty,
46:14a weakening dollar
46:15and hopes of US interest rate cuts,
46:17investors are now flocking
46:18to gold as a safe haven.
46:21But with prices
46:22at an all-time high like this one,
46:24the big question now is
46:25should you buy?
46:26Should you hold?
46:27Should you really wait it out?
46:29We break it down
46:30on what's behind the rally
46:31and what it means for you,
46:33especially if you're planning to buy gold
46:35in this festive season.
46:36Sakshi Batra here
46:41with all the latest.
46:46That's right, Sonal.
46:47Gold prices have shattered
46:48all sorts of records
46:50in the domestic physical market.
46:51We see now gold prices trending
46:53at 1,25,000 rupees per 10 grams.
46:58Now, this is after a 50% surge
47:01that we have seen in gold
47:02all this year round.
47:04In fact, this year has been
47:06one of the unprecedented ones
47:08when we've seen gold prices
47:09rallying very, very swiftly
47:11in a very short period of time as well.
47:13This is also the second consecutive year
47:15when we have seen gold prices
47:17continuously outperforming
47:19all the other asset classes as well.
47:21Now, what we are also given to understand
47:23is the key reasons behind
47:24this dizzying rally have been manyfold.
47:28At this point in time,
47:29if you look at the economic uncertainty
47:31that was first driven
47:32by the tariff hikes by the U.S.,
47:34and now it's also being driven
47:35by the U.S. government shutdown
47:37which has entered its second day,
47:39adding on to the economic uncertainty
47:40and the delays in the decisions as well.
47:43Now, apart from this,
47:44there's also the geopolitical unrest,
47:46now the unrest in France as well,
47:47the war that continues
47:48between Ukraine and Russia
47:49that has led to a safe haven appeal
47:52and further is leading people
47:54to buy that as well.
47:55Now, there is also an expectation
47:56that the Federal Reserve,
47:58the biggest central bank in the world
47:59in the U.S.,
48:00will be reducing its interest rates,
48:03thereby reducing the appeal
48:04for the financial assets,
48:06but thereby increasing the appeal
48:08for the yellow metal at large as well.
48:10Look at what is happening
48:11across the world.
48:13Global central banks
48:14have been only increasing
48:15their purchases in gold
48:17as that has also added on
48:19to this sharp rally
48:21in gold prices as well.
48:22Now, remember.
48:24All right.
48:24Thanks so much, Sakshi,
48:25for bringing us the very latest
48:26on that story.
48:28Let's move on now.
48:30And deep divisions.
48:31Let's tell you about what's happening
48:32in the Tata Trust there,
48:34the body which has a two-third stake
48:36in Tata Suns,
48:37the operating company behind Tata Group.
48:39They forced the government
48:40to call a meeting
48:42with Noel Tata
48:43and Tata Suns chairman,
48:44N. Chandrasekharan,
48:46and two other trustees last night.
48:48The high-level meeting
48:50had Home Minister Amit Shah
48:51and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman
48:53as well in attendance.
48:55So what exactly happened there?
48:56Even before a year has passed
49:09since Ratan Tata's passing,
49:11India's most iconic business house
49:13finds itself in turmoil.
49:16On the eve of his first death anniversary,
49:19the Tata Group is battling a storm within,
49:22one that has now drawn the attention
49:25of the country's top political leadership.
49:28Top Tata honchos on Tuesday night
49:31met Home Minister Amit Shah
49:32and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman
49:34in a clear indication
49:36of the government's unease
49:37with the tempest in Tata Trust,
49:39which owns two-thirds of Tata Suns.
49:43According to reports,
49:44the government is understood
49:46to have delivered a clear message
49:47in the 45-minute meeting
49:49at the Home Minister's residence.
49:52Restore stability at Bombay House
49:55and prevent the internal discord
49:56from spilling over into Tata Suns.
50:00The closed-door meeting
50:01was attended by Tata Trust's chairman
50:03Noel Tata,
50:04Vice-Chairman Venu Srinivasan,
50:07Tata Suns chairman N. Chandrasekharan
50:09and trustee Darius Kambata.
50:12The divide at the Tata Trust
50:14runs deep between Noel Tata,
50:17N. Chandrasekharan
50:18and Venu Srinivasan,
50:20who is also the chairman emeritus
50:22of TVS Motor.
50:24Reportedly on one side
50:25and Mehli Mistry,
50:27Pramit Jhaveri,
50:28Darius Kambata
50:29and Jahangir,
50:30H.C. Jahangir,
50:31on the other.
50:33Reports suggest that the trust
50:34has been divided
50:35since the passing of Ratan Tata
50:37last year.
50:38There are allegations
50:39that the opposing camp
50:40led by Tata Group veteran
50:42Mehli Mistry
50:42has attempted to undermine
50:44Noel Tata's leadership,
50:45acting as a super board
50:46by trying to wet
50:47board meeting
50:48minutes
50:49and approve
50:50independent directors
50:51shortlisted by Tata Suns
50:53nomination
50:53and remuneration committee.
50:56There are also
50:57allegations of opacity
50:58and exclusion
50:59in key decisions
51:00and deepening mistrust
51:01among trustees.
51:03Such moves have raised
51:04serious corporate governance
51:05concerns within the organization.
51:08The rift has become
51:09more apparent
51:10in the recent months.
51:11The government's concern
51:14that these divisions
51:15could destabilize Tata Suns,
51:17the holding company
51:18of a conglomerate
51:18that defines
51:19Indian business.
51:21From software
51:23to steel,
51:24power
51:24to automobiles,
51:25the Tata Group
51:26is the backbone
51:27of corporate India.
51:29With a combined
51:29market capitalization
51:31of over 40 lakh
51:32raw rupees,
51:33even small tremors
51:34within the group
51:35can shake
51:35investor confidence.
51:37Reports also say
51:39the center
51:39has also discussed
51:40the RBI's mandate
51:41for listing Tata Suns
51:43and the liquidity concerns
51:44of the Shapuji Palanji group,
51:46the second largest
51:47shareholder
51:48in the conglomerate.
51:49But the primary message
51:50was unmistakable.
51:52The Tata Trust
51:53must act decisively
51:54to end the internal
51:55power struggle.
51:57Meanwhile,
51:58even as the Tata Suns
51:59standoff continues,
52:01preparations were underway
52:02for remembrance
52:03events marking
52:04the first anniversary
52:05of Ratan Tata's death.
52:10A man whose vision
52:14and integrity
52:15defined the group
52:16for decades
52:17and who is now
52:18certainly being missed
52:19by Tata Group investors.
52:23Bureau Report,
52:24Business Today TV.
52:29Missed indeed,
52:30especially in a time
52:31of crisis like this.
52:32That's all we have
52:32on Five Live
52:33for you today.
52:33I'll see you next time.
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