(This article is based on a real incident that happened a few years back, chronicled by an Independent Journalist Mr. Akbar Khan Rana based in Safidon, Haryana. The sole purpose of this report is to spread awareness in the public interest).
This incident dates back to around 1999 when Mr. Akbar Khan was working as a reporter with Dainik Bhaskar. During one of his investigations, a serious case came to light involving a local pharmaceutical company based in Uchani village in Karnal, Haryana, which was manufacturing Ofloxacin syrup.
It was found that the medicine produced by this local company was being sold at a price even higher than that of reputed brands. The most shocking revelation was that the same medicine was being prescribed in large quantities to patients by a government doctor named Dr. Suri at a government hospital in Safidon, Haryana.
At that time, Dr. Suri was considered a highly influential and renowned doctor. His influence was such that even his senior officers could not exert any control over him. However, while the doctor was powerful, the journalist too was known for his integrity, courage, and fearless nature — a personality equally strong in his own right.
Poor and needy patients who came to government hospitals with the hope of free treatment were forced to buy this expensive medicine from outside medical stores at their own expense.
When Khan investigated the matter in depth, he discovered several serious flaws in the packaging of the medicine. Many boxes did not even have batch numbers printed on them — a direct question on the drug’s quality and authenticity.
When this report, along with photographs, was published in the newspaper, the entire administration went into action. The health department initiated an inquiry, and eventually, the local factory manufacturing the medicine was shut down.
After the report was published, the company first contacted Dainik Bhaskar’s headquarters and tried to get the news withdrawn or have pressure put on Akbar Khan Rana who did the investigation the matter. However, the headquarters clearly stated, “This report has been sent by our correspondent, and if the journalist wishes, he can also publish the company’s response or clarification.”
When the company received no relief from there, it approached the Khan directly. Initially, several temptations were offered — financial benefits, advertisements, and other perks — in an attempt to suppress the news. But when Khan firmly rejected all these inducements, he began receiving serious warnings and threats.
Still, Khan refused to compromise with the truth. He fearlessly continued his mission of bringing reality before the public.
Interestingly, after this incident, Dr. Suri’s attitude also changed. Although he had initially said to the journalist, “Mr. Akbar Khan Rana, you should have spoken to us before publishing the news!”
Over time, however, he came to appreciate the journalist’s courage and honesty. It is said that later, Dr. Suri developed great respect for the journalist. He himself admitted that what happened was ultimately right and in the public interest, because large quantities of that medicine had already been stocked in medical stores, which became completely useless after the news broke — and rightly so, since the medicine was dangerous to public health.
As a result of this courageous reporting, not only was the fraudulent activity of that pharmaceutical company exposed, but the hidden nexus between government doctors and private companies also came to light.
This incident stands as a symbol of that era’s fearless and honest journalism — a time when a journalist refused to bow to money, power, or threats, and chose instead to expose the truth in the interest of the public.
MBTpg