Former drug inspector Kapil Dhiman has been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for corruption and illegal wealth accumulation, along with his father and nephew. He has been handed down a sentence of three years of rigorous imprisonment by the special judge Arvind Malhotra and imposed a fine of ₹7 lakh plus two years of RI for his father and nephew with a fine of ₹2 lakh each.

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau seized assets amounting to crores, including:

• A three-storied commercial building situated in Mandi boundaries worth ₹15.26 lakh.

• One fixed deposit account under Punit Dhiman for ₹14.66 lakh.

• A property in Panchkula which is ₹35 lakh.

This was an outcome of a number of complaints against Kapil Dhiman during the drug inspector and assistant controller periods in Solan and Sirmaur. The allegations against him were for issuing fraudulent pharmaceutical licenses and taking bribes from 2001 to 2012.

Notable findings were:

• Properties in Solan, Panchkula, and Baddi.

• Various luxury vehicles, gold, and other valuables.

• A pharmaceutical company, Lyra Lab Pvt Ltd, said to have been connected to Dhiman's nephew.

Three associates of the alleged conspiracy, while acquitted, spurred the court against their corruptntions, emphasizing a need for stronger regulations to act against corruption in the pharmaceutical sector.
This case's take-home message is an unmistakable reminder of the utmost significance of accountability in public health maintenance.