EXCLUSIVE: here's the First picture of Indian doctor who prescribed huge quantities of high-strength sleeping pills to British newlyweds days before they died in drugs binge

This is the Indian doctor who prescribed huge quantities of high-strength sleeping pills to a British graduate days before he was found dead with his wife from an apparent drugs overdose.
Dr Ish Anand, from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, in Delhi, gave James Gaskell a prescription for Diazepam last week after the newlywed said he was addicted to the drug.


                    this the hotel where the couple died

Mr Gaskell, 27, and his young wife Alexandra were found in a hotel on Tuesday surrounded by the sordid detritus of an apparent binge on Diazepam, cough syrup and anti-depressants.
It is believed the couple were victims of so-called drug tourism after Mr Gaskell boasted online about the ease with which they could acquire powerful medicines from doctors.

India is seen as a honey-pot for so-called drugs tourists because of the easy availability of prescription and over-the-counter medicine. 
The drugs industry in India has come under increasing scrutiny this year amid claims of safety lapses, falsified drug test results and the sale of fake medicines.


However, Dr Anand has defended his decision to offer a repeat prescription to Mr Gaskell, saying he acted 'reasonably'.
Hel told MailOnline: 'He was addicted to these pills so it's not safe to come off them immediately, he has to come off them slowly.
'He said he'd been on the medicine for a long time and he had come to me for a repeat prescription.

'So I gave him a different dose as a repeat prescription. 
'You need to slowly reduce your intake, it is very serious if you stop taking them immediately, so I felt it reasonable to give him another prescription.'
He said Mr Gaskell 'seemed stable, calm, alert and walked well', adding: 'It was a medicine that I just continued to give him; it wasn't a new prescription. 
'He was very well informed about the medicine and I felt he knew what he was doing.
Dr Anand, who also has a clinic in Defence Colony, South Delhi, is described on the centre's website as 'a distinguished neurologist, a brilliant clinician, a teacher par excellence and a renowned neuro-electro physiologist.' 
Diazepam is used to treat anxiety disorders, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, muscle spasms or sleeping problems. It is sometimes used with other medications to treat seizures.

Although it is not known if the couple died as a result of drugs bought in India, warnings have been issued about the dangers of seeking out prescription medication in foreign countries. 
Bhavna Verma, 42, a clinical psychologist from Swashrit Society, said pharmacies in India hardly ever check prescriptions and often accept excuses for any missing paper work from doctors.