Three office-bearers of All Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association (AKCDA), its president AN Mohan, secretary Ravindran and treasurer Sayed, who have been facing corruption charges, have resigned from their respective posts.

According to sources, the resignation of the three comes in the backdrop of the seizure of several incriminating documents and unlicensed medicines amounting to several lakh of rupees from the offices and residences of the office-bearers by the state drug department officials who conducted raids as part of its investigation into the alleged corrupt practices of the trio.

According to unconfirmed reports, unbailable arrest warrants have been issued against these office-bearers.

Earlier, the state drug department officials headed by assistant drug controller Ravindran had conducted raids at AKCDA office and residences of the office-bearers and seized several incriminating documents regarding the illegal transactions of money with the pharma companies. Besides, the raiding party had seized lakh of rupees of unlicensed medicines from them.

The three are facing corruption charges for self-aggrandisement using the AKCDA posts. As per the charges alleged by a section of the AKCDA, the three office-bearers have been collecting huge amounts of money from the pharma companies in the name of product information certificate (PIC) which has been made illegal by the state government. The AKCDA has made it mandatory for all the pharma companies to get the PIC by paying Rs 2000 before introducing a new product in the market. The allegation is that the PIC is being used as a tool to arm-twist the pharma companies for favours both in cash and kind.

When the issue reached its crescendo, the state government had constituted a 6-member subject committee including MLAs to investigate into the matter.