The criminal lawsuit against former MP and head coach of the Indian cricket team Gautam Gambhir, his family, and his charity was dismissed by the Delhi High Court due to claims that they unlawfully stocked and distributed COVID-19 medications during the 2021 pandemic’s height. The order, which was given on November 21, 2025, ends a four-year court dispute that attracted a lot of public interest.
When Delhi was dealing with one of the deadliest COVID-19 waves in April and May of 2021, the dispute began. There had been rumours that Gautam Gambhir foundation and office were giving out antiviral medications to the general people when there wasn’t enough of them. The Delhi government’s Drug Control Department filed a complaint under Section 18(c) read with Section 27(b)(ii) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, which forbids the production, distribution, or sale of drugs without a valid licence, after critics claimed hoarding and unauthorised possession.
Gautam Gambhir, his wife Natasha, his mother Seema, Aprajita Singh, the CEO of his charity, and the Gautam Gambhir charity were all named in the case. The case was still pending until the most recent decision, even though the High Court had delayed trial court proceedings in September 2021.
The criminal complaint and trial court summons against the petitioners were formally quashed by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna’s decision, which was delivered on Friday.
Gautam Gambhir and the other defendants received significant relief when the court ruled that the complaint could not be maintained.
The Drug Control Department said during the proceedings that the petitioners had dispensed drugs without a legal licence, and their sole defence was that the medications were given away for free rather than sold. Gautam Gambhir legal team, however, insisted that the distribution was purely humanitarian and intended to assist citizens during a time when the government, pharmacies, and hospitals were finding it difficult to handle the massive demand for COVID-19 therapy.
Gautam Gambhir had previously submitted a motion to quash both the summons and the lawsuit, arguing that there was no criminal intent and emphasising that the distribution did not do any harm to the public. Gautam Gambhir filed a new recall plea when the High Court revoked the previous stay in April 2024, but the case has already been resolved.
The Gautam Gambhir Foundation and family members acting as trustees, including his mother and wife, are also exonerated by the ruling. Gambhir was in Guwahati with the Indian cricket team, getting ready for the second Test match against South Africa, when the verdict was rendered.
India
