Himachal: Drug inspector sentenced to 3 years rigorous imprisonment

Himachal Pradesh: Special Judge Arvind Malhotra today sentenced Drug Controller Kapil Dhiman, his father Laxman Dhiman and nephew Puneet Dhiman to rigorous imprisonment for acquiring property through improper means and criminal conspiracy. Kapil Dhiman was sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 7 lakh, while Laxman and Puneet Dhiman were sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 2 lakh each. Besides, Laxman Dhiman’s three-storey building worth Rs 15.26 lakh at King’s village in Mandi, Puneet Dhiman’s fixed deposits and bank balance worth Rs 14.66 lakh have been confiscated and handed over to the state government. Kapil Dhiman’s property worth Rs 35 lakh located at Amravati Enclave in Panchkula has also been confiscated.
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) initiated the probe against Kapil Dhiman, who had worked as Drug Inspector and Assistant Controller in Solan and Sirmaur, following unanimous complaints. The allegations revealed that Kapil Dhiman had acquired the property through illegal means. On December 14, 2012, the VACB registered an FIR and launched an in-depth investigation for the period 2001 to 2012. The FIR also alleged that Kapil Dhiman illegally took bribes and issued certain licenses to pharmaceutical companies without following proper procedures. Following the FIR, the bureau searched Kapil Dhiman’s residence and properties of his relatives and seized documents related to movable and immovable properties. He was arrested on December 16, 2012 and suspended on December 19, 2012. However, he retired in June 2023.

The investigation revealed that Kapil Dhiman had amassed several properties including Sugandha Apartments (Solan), Amravati Enclave (Panchkula), Brewery (Surajpur) and a commercial plot in Devghat. He also acquired luxury vehicles, motorcycles, gold jewellery, gold biscuits, silver jewellery, expensive silver artefacts, liquor and wristwatches. Besides, Kapil Dhiman had inducted his nephew in a Baddi-based pharmaceutical company, Lyra Lab Pvt Ltd. He acquired land and properties in Kot (Panchkula) and Hansu (Mandi) villages in the name of his father Laxman Dhiman, VACB deputy district attorney Hemant Chaudhary said. Three other persons – Dharmendra Gulati, Sanjeev Aggarwal and Sushil Goyal, who were accused of assisting Dhiman in amassing disproportionate assets – were acquitted by the court due to lack of sufficient evidence linking them to the criminal conspiracy. The case highlights the rampant corruption that has plagued the regulatory department, which is responsible for ensuring the production of safe and high-quality medicines.