The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has removed Montu Patel from his role as President of the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), citing that he no longer meets the membership requirements to hold office, The Times of India reported.
According to the ministry’s order, “Currently, Patel is neither a nominated member under Section 3(h) of the PCI Act, 1948, nor a member of the Gujarat State Pharmacy Council. Hence he ceases to be a member of the Central Council of PCI, thereby also ending his presidentship.”
The order directs that the PCI must conduct elections for a new president within three months. In the interim, Vice-President Jasubhai Chaudhari is designated to serve as acting president.
Patel has been under scrutiny amid allegations of corruption and irregularities. In July 2025, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids on his residence in Gujarat and his offices in Delhi.
He is alleged to have accepted money in exchange for accrediting colleges despite non-compliance with regulations. Reports suggest that as many as 870 pharmacy colleges were approved within a span of 13 days.
Earlier, Patel was nominated to PCI in October 2019 as a representative of Gujarat (including the union territory of Dadra, Nagar Haveli & Daman) via his membership in the Gujarat State Pharmacy Council.
He assumed the presidency of PCI in April 2022. Under the PCI Act, Section 7 stipulates that any disqualification, such as ceasing to be a member of the Council, results in automatic removal from office.
