PTI

New Delhi, Jul 22: Homegrown pharma major Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd on Tuesday said it has got clean chit from English Crown Court in a case relating to allegation of price rigging in drug supplies to UK's National Health Services (NHS) between 1996-2000.

The English Crown Court has quashed the prosecution of Ranbaxy (UK) Ltd (RUKL) by UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Ranbaxy said in a statement.

"The court has also declined an application by the SFO for permission to appeal to the English Court of Appeal," it said.

The SFO, however, retains a right to appeal to the Court of Appeal directly, it added.

SFO had initiated prosecution against Ranbaxy in April 2006 for alleged price rigging of pencilin-based anti-biotics, including amoxicillin, ampicillin and flucloxacillin, that were supplied to the NHS between 1996-2000.

Welcoming the decision of the court, the company said, "Ranbaxy is a responsible company committed to providing high quality generic medicines at affordable prices to its customers and patients."