Delhi | Covid-19
Covid-19: Delhi Police seizes 419 oxygen concentrators being sold at Rs 70,000, arrests 4 in fresh raids
New Delhi/IBNS: A fresh case of black marketing of oxygen concentrators, a vital equipment for saving critical Covid-19 patients, surfaced on Thursday after Delhi Police busted a racket at a restaurant-cum-bar in Lodhi Colony of the national capital.
Police arrested four people and confiscated 419 oxygen concentrators, which were being sold for over Rs 70,000.
The accused have been identified as Gaurav Singh, Satish Sethi, Vikrant and Hitesh, all residents of Delhi.
Media reports said police sensed suspicious activity at 'Nege Ju Restaurant and Bar' located in the central market in Lodhi Colony while patrolling the area.
On searching the establishment, a person was found taking orders for oxygen concentrators via an online portal.
During the raid, 32 boxes of oxygen concentrators with 9 litre and 5 litre capacity were found along with a box of thermal scanners and another box containing N-95 masks, said an India Today report.
Further investigations revealed that the bar-cum-restaurant is owned by one Navneet Kalra.
Police have registered a case under the sections of the Essential Commodities Act and Epidemic Diseases Act.
On interrogation, the accused revealed that they also have a warehouse in Khullar Farm, Mandi Village, the report added. As many as 387 more units of oxygen concentrators were recovered after police conducted more raids.
Invoices of oxygen concentrators being sold at Rs 70,000 each were found during the raids. MRP stickers of the same price were found on the oxygen units.
Further investigations are on to nab the other members of the racket, the report added.
In another raid on Thursday, police arrested two black marketers who were trying to sell oxygen concentrators for Rs 1.4 lakh. Police also seized 18 stabilizers, 270 Steamers and a four-wheeler from them.
#KeepingDelhiSafe
— DCP West Delhi (@DCPWestDelhi) May 6, 2021
Spl. Staff nabbed the duo indulging in illegal hoarding/black-marketeering. 18 Oxygen Concentrators, each intended to be sold @ Rs.1.4 lac with 18 stabilizers, 270 Steamers & 1 Fortuner Car seized. @HMOIndia @LtGovDelhi @CPDelhi @SanjaySingh_IPS @ANI @PTI_News pic.twitter.com/rYt9KLVDYb
On May 4, outer-north Delhi Police seized 115 oxygen concentrators and arrested four other people for selling the equipment at exorbitant rates, the media had reported.
The alleged black marketers, who were identified as Anuj, Shekhar, Keshav and the kingpin, Anil Jain, were trying to sell one oxygen concentrator for Rs 1.1 lakh.
Police seized Rs 4.9 lakh cash and a car from them. After interrogation, police located 115 oxygen concentrators and confiscated them.
Earlier, police had seized 170 oxygen concentrators in north Delhi.
A Times of India report said on the directive of police commissioner SN Shrivastava, police have approached the court seeking its permission to give the seized devices to hospitals.
So far, police have released 170 oxygen concentrators confiscated in north Delhi last week to various hospitals in Delhi.
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