Cancer drugs, costing up to ₹ one lakh a vial, provided under Rajasthan’s government free-medicine programme were allegedly sold in the black market in Delhi, prompting the state government to order an inquiry into their procurement, distribution and utilisation.
Four seized vials of Bavencio 200mg/10ml (avelumab), batch AU052510, have emerged as the key link to Rajasthan. Verification with the manufacturer established that the batch was supplied to the Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Limited (RMSCL). The inquiry committee will examine the supply chain, including procurement records, stock registers, indents, dispatch details, receipt and storage records, distribution and patient-treatment records. The Delhi Crime Branch has issued a notice to RMSCL managing director Pukhraj Sen seeking documents related to the procurement, receipt, distribution and utilisation of the particular batch. Investigators sought details of the hospitals and medical colleges that received the stock and the officials who accepted it.
The batch was manufactured in February 2025 and is due to expire in January 2028.
