Shimla– In a shocking revelation from an ongoing Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation, former Assistant Drug Controller (ADC) Nishant Sarin allegedly pocketed benefits worth over ₹1.06 crore from pharmaceutical companies while holding a pivotal regulatory position in Himachal Pradesh’s Baddi industrial hub. The probe, conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, has uncovered a web of extortion, bribery, and abuse of authority, painting a grim picture of corruption in the state’s booming pharma sector.
Sarin, who oversaw drug licensing and inspections as ADC in Baddi—a cluster hosting over 3,000 manufacturing units—supposedly leveraged his role to coerce favors from firms desperate for approvals. According to ED findings, the illicit gains included lavish bookings at five-star hotels, interstate flight tickets, and high-value gifts, amassing ₹1.06 crore over his tenure. This figure encompasses ₹15.65 lakh detailed in a separate charge sheet by the Himachal Pradesh State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, which has filed an FIR against Sarin for corruption, misuse of position, and bribery in license issuance.
The scandal deepens with revelations that Sarin covertly controlled Zeniya Pharmaceuticals through a proxy proprietor, Komal Khanna, who is currently under ED interrogation. His coercive tactics reportedly inflicted a staggering ₹4.72 crore in losses on targeted companies, including M/s Nia Pharma and M/s Zeniya Pharmaceuticals. ED sleuths have grilled 13 representatives from these and other unnamed pharma outfits, piecing together a timeline of systematic shakedowns.
The crackdown escalated on October 10, when Sarin was arrested at the ED’s Shimla Zonal Office during questioning in a related disproportionate assets case. A PMLA Special Court promptly granted four days of agency custody for deeper probing, followed by an extension of judicial remand until October 27. Sources indicate the ED may seek further custody to unravel potential links to broader syndicates in the ₹4 lakh crore Indian pharmaceutical industry.
“This case underscores the rot in regulatory oversight, where public servants betray trust for personal opulence,” a senior ED official remarked anonymously, highlighting the probe’s focus on asset trails and proxy operations. Pharma associations in Himachal have welcomed the action, calling for stricter audits to safeguard the sector’s integrity amid global scrutiny on drug quality.
As investigations intensify, the fallout could trigger license revocations and wider audits, serving as a stark warning to errant officials in one of India’s fastest-growing export pillars.
