The Delhi High Court has reserved its decision on a plea filed by former cricketer and Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir.
August 29, 2025: Neena Bansal Krishna, a judge in the Delhi High Court, heard arguments from both parties before making her decision. The Drug Control Department of the Delhi government made the complaint.
Gautam Gambhir, who used to be a Member of Parliament, his wife Natasha, his mother Seema, and his foundation are all being charged with breaking the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Section 18(c) of this law says that you can’t make, sell, or give out drugs without a license. Section 27(b)(ii) says that breaking this law can get you three to five years in prison.
Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, Gambhir’s lawyer, said that the distribution was aimed to help those in need, not to make money. Dehadrai said, “My (Gambhir) only goal was to help people in need.” I wasn’t trying to do anything else. It is a good fit for getting rid of the summons and the criminal complaint.”
The Drug Control Department’s lawyer, on the other hand, was against the plea, saying that the people who filed the petition had admitted to giving out narcotics without a proper license. They also said that the plea couldn’t be heard since Gambhir went straight to the High Court instead of a lower court that may have reviewed it. The prosecution lawyer said, “We can’t look into the truth of the claims at this point.”
In September 2021, the High Court put a stop to the trial court’s work, but in April of this year, it lifted the stay. Gambhir has since filed a new application asking for that order to be overturned. The High Court told Gambhir’s lawyer to ask for an adjournment because the trial court hearing is set for September 8. The decision on whether the criminal complaint would be dropped is still up in the air.