Deepali kalia
Delhi Court denied bail to a man apprehended for allegedly hoarding and black marketing large quantities of oxygen concentrators stating that such acts during the pandemic affected the public at large.
The bail plea of Anil Jain, arrested by Delhi Police and from whom the police had seized 500 oxygen cylinder concentrators was rejected by Additional Sessions Judge Jagdish Kumar.
The Police had filed an FIR against Jain under sections 420 (cheating), 188 (Disobedience to order by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code and various sections under Essential Commodities Act and Epidemic Diseases Act.
The Judge stated that the allegations in these turbulent times leveled against the accused were of serious nature and added that the illegal hoarding and black marketing of the lifesaving drugs and equipment affected the public at large.
The prosecution claimed that the accused through various whatsapp groups and voice messages purchased the lifesaving equipment and sold them through 2 or 3 middlemen.
The defense however stated that the charges leveled against him are false and he had only made a profit of about 3000 rupees on the equipment.