In a volte-face, Delhi's Apollo Hospital on Sunday disclosed that traces of cocaine and a cocktail of drugs have been found in the urine sample of Rahul Mahajan although Dr Anupam Sibal stood by his Saturday's statement that the late Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pramod Mahajan's son had tested negative for drugs, but at the same time, revealed that urine sample tested at a well known private lab found traces of a cocktail of drugs, including cocaine.
When asked if Mahajan had drugs, Sibal said, "Perhaps yes, perhaps, no."
He explained the contradiction by stating that the hospital did not conduct quantitative tests and only performed tests for the qualitative presence of drugs. But the test reports by Dr Lal's Pathological Lab, which conducted the quantitative tests on the urine sample, showed the presence of traces of drugs.
"It could be said that cocaine is present even though in a very minute quantity. It is very much normal," he said.
The hospital authorities also distributed copies of the Lal's report which showed the presence of drugs, including cocaine metaboloids and cannabinoids.
A test was also conducted on the blood sample of Rahul at Lal's pathological lab which showed traces of alcohol.
He maintained that it was the job of the police to investigate what led to Rahul's clinical condition.
However, another doctor has also said traces of "cocktail of drugs" were found in the sample although it was negative because they were under permissible limits. On tests conducted on Mahajan's urine samples, Sibal said, "No such traces of drugs were found in the tests conducted by the hospital, which was also re-checked by another prestigious laboratory."
He was admitted to the hospital at 2.55 am and the samples were collected at 6.00 am, Sibal said adding in the tests only one drug Benzodyzadine, which is actually a sedative, was found to be above normal levels.
Sibal said there was further improvement in the condition of Rahul, who was off the ventilator since Saturday and was partaking oral diets and fluids.
"Rahul has made further progress in his overall clinical condition. The non-invasive ventilator is now being used intermittently and all his vital parameters are stable," he told reporters in New Delhi adding that Mahajan continues to be under close observation.
On questions about the gastric tests from CFSL, he said, "We are also anxiously waiting for the result since we also want to know what triggered the situation."
A Delhi police team on Sunday visited Apollo hospital for a possible questioning session with Rahul Mahajan but doctors say they will have to wait since Rahul is still in intensive care.
Meanwhile, Harish Sharma, the late Pramod Mahajan's former secretary, who was admitted to the hospital with high blood pressure, is being discharged on Sunday.