New Delhi: Addressing the media, Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil launched an attack on the BJP, accusing the party of shielding large-scale corruption involving Montu Patel, President of the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) and Gujarat BJP leader.

Citing a recent Delhi CBI court order dated July 15, Gohil explained how, despite serious evidence, the CBI failed to properly investigate Patel, ensuring technical grounds for his legal protection. “The goddess of justice doesn’t go out to investigate; she holds the scales. Both sides must place their facts. But the CBI deliberately avoided presenting facts to shield Patel,” he said.

Gohil revealed that complaints and proof of alleged corruption worth ₹5,000 crore had been filed against Montu Patel, yet the CBI delayed filing an FIR for two years and, when forced to file it, treated Patel “like a son-in-law” instead of an accused. “Even the court noted in its order that Patel was not even summoned. The CBI admitted they just spoke to him on the phone, which ironically means they knew his location but still didn’t arrest him,” he added.

Photos, documents, and investigative reports were shown, highlighting Patel’s alleged assets, including luxury cars and properties worth crores. Gohil said Patel and his network approved hundreds of pharmacy colleges without physical inspections, allegedly in exchange for bribes ranging from ₹10 lakh to ₹25 lakh per college. “Some colleges exist only on paper, without buildings or staff, but got approvals,” he claimed, adding that this directly endangers public health by producing unqualified pharmacists.

Gohil also showed evidence that Patel lost an election in Gujarat after getting only 435 votes out of 55,000, yet was “planted” into the central council from Daman, where he had no business or residence. Further, when inquiries began, Patel allegedly appointed his own associates into key positions to keep control.

He questioned why Patel has not yet been expelled from the BJP and why agencies like ED and Income Tax haven’t investigated him despite abundant evidence. “Despite ₹5,000 crore corruption, the CBI avoided arrest, didn’t present evidence in court, and now Patel has interim protection till July 23,” Gohil alleged.

Gohil put forward four demands:

1. Expel Montu Patel from the BJP immediately.

2. Direct the CBI to file proper evidence in court and fight up to the Supreme Court to cancel Patel’s anticipatory bail.

3. Send ED and Income Tax to investigate Patel and his associates’ assets.

4. Dissolve the current Pharmacy Council, and place it under a retired Supreme Court or High Court judge until Parliament passes a new transparent law to reform the PCI.

DeshGujarat