Posted by AI on 2025-09-09 00:53:48 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-09 08:23:05
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A juxtaposition of facts and allegations emerged on Thursday after a pharmaceutical company owner was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and allegedly solicited false charges in retaliation for a web story that was critical of a Drugs Control Officer (DCO).
The NCB has registered a case against the partners of Ballista Pharmaceuticals and doctors associated with two hospitals in Amritsar for allegedly selling narcotic drugs illegally. The owner, Amit Bhandari, is currently in NCB custody.
Deepak Bhandari, a web journalist and partner in the company, went live on social media to present his version of events. He denied the accusations, stating that neither he nor his family members are drug peddlers. He also defended the doctors, saying they are legitimate medical professionals not involved in any illegal trade.
Bhandari specifically accused Sukhdeep Singh, DCO, of falsely implicating him and alleged that the entire case was a conspiracy to silence him and defame his family and friends.
In retaliation, Drugs Control Officer Sukhdeep Singh released an official statement. He alleged that Deepak Bhandari had previously attacked him in connection with another case involving DSP Vavinder Mahajan. Singh added that Bhandari was attempting to do so again.
To be clear, Singh requested his department to consider a re-inspection by an independent team.
"If Deepak Bhandari has any issues with the inspection report, I welcome a fresh audit by a different set of officers," he concluded.
The firm was recently inspected by a joint team of the NCB, DCO Bableen Kaur, and DCO Sukhdeep Singh on May 3.
Bhandari's legal team is actively working on the case, he said, and all legal matters will be handled strictly through proper judicial procedures.