Doc-1 Max case: Marion Biotech founders escape custody
At least 68 children in Uzbekistan died due to Doc-1 Max syrup produced by India's Marion Biotech company, whose founders and directors – Sachin Jain and his wife Jaya Jain – although issued an Interpol search warrant by Uzbekistan, were arrested in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and soon released.
In 2022, at least 68 children in Uzbekistan died, and 16 became disabled as a result of taking Doc-1 Max cough syrup manufactured by India's Marion Biotech. Investigations revealed that the company's Doc-1 Max and Ambronol syrups contained poisonous substances diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol (EG) instead of or along with propylene glycol.
Following this, in January 2024, the Indian government halted production at the Marion Biotech plant and revoked the company's license. On March 3, 2023, Indian police detained the pharmaceutical company's director of manufacturing and two chemists. It was announced that the remaining two directors, who are outside the country, will be arrested upon their return to India.
According to Press Trust of India, cases have been initiated against them under Articles 274 (counterfeiting drugs), 275 (selling counterfeit drugs), and 276 (selling drugs as other medicines or medicinal products) of the Indian Penal Code.
During the appeal case session of the Doc-1 Max matter ongoing in Uzbekistan on June 7, some additional details of the case became known.
Firstly, it's worth noting that Marion Biotech's headquarters is located in Noida city, Uttar Pradesh state, India. The company was registered on May 21, 1999.
According to the Indian Ministry of Corporate Affairs data, Sachin Jain and his wife Jaya Jain were the main shareholders at the time of the children's deaths. Besides being founders, they have also been serving as managing directors since April 8, 2011.
These two individuals, besides Marion Biotech, also hold shares in 23 other companies.
Sachin Jain was born in 1972 in India. He was announced wanted by the Uzbekistan State Security Service on May 4, 2023. Based on a request from the Deputy Prosecutor General, a decision was made for his pretrial detention. Consequently, he was tried in absentia for premeditated group crimes that caused human deaths due to substandard drugs, and preventive detention was ordered for him on May 10, 2023, at a closed court session of the Yunusabad district criminal court.
Subsequently, Sachin Jain was placed on an Interpol warrant and soon arrested in the UAE. On August 2, 2023, Uzbek law enforcement agencies received a request from Interpol about Sachin Jain's arrest in Abu Dhabi, including materials related to extradition. On the same day, the Uzbek authorities sent copies in English for interim use to the Abu Dhabi Interpol National Central Bureau until the translations into Arabic were ready. The documents translated into Arabic were sent for organizing the extradition process on August 10.
Three months later, on November 18, 2023, Uzbek law enforcement agencies sent an inquiry to the Abu Dhabi Interpol National Central Bureau about Sachin Jain's status in the UAE. In response to the inquiry, it was reported that the search and restrictions on Sachin Jain were lifted "due to relevant UAE authorities not providing the requested information."
As a result, the severe criminal remains at large. Information submitted to the court by Uzbek law enforcement states that search operations are continuing.
In India, concerning the case, charges have been brought against the leaders of "Marion Biotech Private Limited" (producer) and "Maya Chemtech India Pvt." (supplier that delivered the component to the producer) and others under Articles 17(a) and 17(b) of India's "Drugs and Cosmetics Act" related to the manufacture and sale of substandard, fake, and counterfeit drugs that could pose serious harm and be fatal.
Charges have been brought against the following individuals in the Indian criminal case:
- “Marion Biotech Pvt. Ltd.”;
- Sachin Jain, director and company founder;
- Jaya Jain, wife of Sachin Jain, director;
- Tuhin Bhattacharya, head of operations;
- Atul Rawat, chemist-manufacturer;
- Mul Singh, chemist-analyst;
- “Maya Chemtech India Pvt.”;
- Megh Sharma, director;
- Neelam Verma, director.
It is noteworthy that the charges laid against the above individuals are not considered serious under Indian law, meaning the sanction involves a fine of one thousand rupees (152 thousand UZS) and/or imprisonment of up to six months.
With the intent to clarify the information disseminated in the media, in March 2023, Uzbek investigative authorities sent a relevant inquiry to the Indian government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, as of March 2024, no response has been received to the aforementioned inquiry.
Kun.uz has also sent an inquiry to the Indian embassy in Uzbekistan regarding this criminal case, but the request remained unanswered.
