Chhattisgarh sterilisation-linked drug firm closed 3 months ago

One of the drug companies under the scanner for the deaths of 14 sterilised women in Chhattisgarh has been found to operate from a double-storey, 4-room house in Indore that has been unoccupied and locked since August.

Updated on: Nov 15, 2014, 21:04:42 IST

Hindustan Times | By Ritesh Mishra, Indore

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One of the drug companies under the scanner for the deaths of 14 sterilised women in Chhattisgarh has been found to operate from a double-storey, four-room house in the city that has been unoccupied and locked since August.

An-HT-correspondent-was-greeted-by-a-big-lock-at-323-Kalani-Nagar-in-Indore-the-official-address-of-M-s-Zee-Pharma-Amit-K-Jailwal-HT-photo

Indore-based M/s Zee Pharma had supplied a lotion, Zealon, samples of which have now been sent by the Chhattisgarh government to a Kolkata laboratory for examination.

An HT correspondent was greeted by a big lock at 323, Kalani Nagar in Indore, the official address of M/s Zee Pharma. Kalani Nagar is one of the biggest colonies of the city with nearly 1500 houses. The house has been locked since August, neighbours said.

The building, its outside unplastered, carries no board or any sign identifying it as a drug supplying company.

An elderly woman, who lives in a house adjacent to the so-called medical firm, said she has been living in the colony for seven years. “People who had been living here before us told us that it (the firm) has been running here before that. In last few months, I (have) not seen anyone here in this plant. It is closed,” she said.

Locals said the company closed three months back and no one is seen there nowadays.

However, a local resident, Virendra Panceha, said one Ashok Jain of Bhopal was the owner of the company. “He used to come to my house. But, he hasn’t come for months. He is a resident of Bhopal and I did not know more about him,” he said.

Jain’s phone was switched off.

The existence of a medicine manufacturing company in a densely populated locality has raised questions over how it was allowed to come up and run in a residential area.

But, some old residents said a few non-hazardous medical units were established in the area in early 1980s.

Read:Drugs of Indore-based pharma firm sent to lab

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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