Setback to Sanofi: SC Refuses to Quash CBI Criminal Case Over BARC Supplies
Mumbai: The Supreme Court of India has dismissed Sanofi India Limited's petition seeking quashing of criminal proceedings initiated against the company in connection with a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) complaint relating to pharmaceutical supplies made to the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mysore.
Sanofi India disclosed the development in a filing under Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, stating that the Supreme Court passed its order on September 7, 2026.
The matter concerns the maintainability of criminal prosecution against the company even when no individual employee has been arraigned as an accused in the case. Sanofi India clarified that the Supreme Court has not recorded any finding of guilt against the company and has not adjudicated on the merits of the allegations.
CBI Complaint Against Sanofi India
The matter originated from an appeal filed by Sanofi India seeking to quash a criminal complaint case registered by the CBI against the company. The complaint relates to pharmaceutical supplies made to BARC, Mysore, between 2012 and 2015.
According to the company’s disclosure, the CBI complaint contains allegations of an alleged conspiracy involving a BARC personnel, with the purported objective of wrongfully influencing procurement decisions.
The criminal complaint case remains pending for trial.
The action taken by the Supreme Court was the dismissal of Sanofi India’s petition seeking quashing of the criminal proceedings. The decision specifically concerns whether criminal prosecution against the company can be maintained even when no individual employee has been made an accused.
Sanofi India received the Supreme Court’s order on September 7, 2026. The company reiterated that the Court has neither recorded a finding of guilt against it nor decided the merits of the allegations.
Sanofi India Assessing Next Litigation Strategy
With regard to the alleged violations or contraventions, Sanofi India stated that the proceedings concern its appeal against the CBI criminal complaint. The underlying allegations relate to pharmaceutical supplies to BARC, Mysore, during the 2012–2015 period and the alleged conspiracy with a BARC employee to improperly influence procurement decisions.
On the potential impact of the Supreme Court order, Sanofi India said it is assessing the judgment and formulating its next litigation strategy.
The company further stated that the judgment, at this stage, does not impose any penalty, conviction or operational restriction on Sanofi India.
