Health Ministry examining US court order against Ranbaxy

The Health Ministry is examining the US court order related to violation of USFDA drug safety norms by Ranbaxy at its manufacturing units in India but is yet to order a probe into the matter.
"Right now, we are looking into the US court order against Ranbaxy and whether there has been any violation of Indian laws," a health ministry official said.
The ministry has also asked the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to examine the US court order to determine whether any Indian laws were violated by the drug production facilities in Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, the official said.

"If there is any violation, then a probe would be ordered," the official said.
Last week, Ranbaxy pleaded guilty to "felony charges" relating to manufacture and distribution of certain adulterated drugs made at two plants in India and agreed to pay USD 500 million in settlement with the US authorities.
The government is also studying the 2008 report of DCGI, which had probed the case and decided against banning Ranbaxy's drugs in India.
Japanese drugmaker Daiichi-Sankyo, the current owners of Ranbaxy, had threatened to sue the company's former promoters for allegedly concealing and misrepresenting critical information about US investigation into sale of adulterated drugs.

The former promoters of Ranbaxy had rebutted the current Japanese owner's allegations of hiding information on US probe into drug adulteration, saying they did not misrepresent any facts or falsify any data.