PANJIM: The Chemist and Druggist Association is in the process of filing a case against Vintage Hospital for allegedly duping 20 chemists to the tune of Rs 45 lakh. This was revealed Thursday by Albert Valles, Chairman of Wholesale Chemists Association.
It was also revealed that the hearing of a case filed by the North Canara Gaud Saraswat Bank against the hospital will be held on Friday. The hospital owes in excess of Rs 9 crore to three banks and a notice of possession of the hospital premises has been presented by Margao Co-operative Bank.
Speaking to Herald, Valles said the promoter and Chairman of the hospital Subash Dubashi had cleared Rs 52 lakh and then in March when he had to clear Rs 45 lakh, the cheques bounced. He made no attempt to clear his dues.
The hospital was then sold to Shiv Kumar Alle, a doctor and entrepreneur who owns hospitals around the country. Shiv Kumar assured chemists he would clear their dues in five instalments. The first instalment which amounted to a quarter of the amount was cleared but the second cheque bounced.
Shiv Kumar claimed he had also been cheated by Dubashi and the promises made to him about the facilities at the hospital had turned out to be false.
Speaking to the Herald from Karnataka, Shiv Kumar said, “I am not responsible for the actions of Subash Dubashi and I cannot pay for the medicines. That first payment was a courtesy to the chemists with outstanding and I am not responsible.”
Recently, the Food and Drug Administration had decided to suspend the licence of the hospital pharmacy from August 22 for a period of 10 days. It also advised the traders not to supply medicines to the facility.
The chemists association alleged the hospital is still providing medicines to patients using its facilities. Later in the day, the association went to the residence of Dubashi who they claimed had returned from London a day earlier. The association will be meeting its lawyers on Saturday and is expected to file a complaint with the economic offences cell next week.
