COVID-19: 96 oxygen concentrators seized from Delhi's Khan Chacha restaurant
The Delhi Police today seized as many as 96 oxygen concentrators from the popular Khan Chacha restaurant in the city's Khan Market area, reports say. The development comes just days after more than 400 oxygen concentrators were recovered from a restaurant and a farmhouse in South Delhi. Several cases of hoarding and black marketing of oxygen-related equipment have surfaced amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
Cops release video of the raid at Khan Chacha
The Delhi Police has also released a video of the raid conducted at the restaurant to the media. In the clip, dozens of sealed boxes of oxygen concentrators were seen piled up at the eatery.
You can watch the video here
419 oxygen concentrators were seized earlier this week
Earlier this week, the Delhi Police seized 419 oxygen concentrators from the Nege & Ju restaurant in Lodhi Colony and a farmhouse in South Delhi. Hitesh Prakash, 32, the manager of the restaurant, has been arrested, along with three other men - Gaurav Singh, Satish Sethi, and Vikrant Singh. They are accused of selling the oxygen concentrators at over three times the actual price.
Delhi Police posted this video last night
All raided places are owned by Navneet Kalra
After due verification, it has been found that all the places where raids were held are owned by one Navneet Kalra. A few reports claim that he is absconding. Atul Kumar Thakur, DCP (South), said, "Kalra's role in the black marketing case is being verified." Meanwhile, the four arrested accused have been booked under sections of Essential Commodities Act and the Epidemic Diseases Act.
Accused imported equipment, sold them at Rs. 70,000 each
According to a report by The Indian Express, nine more oxygen concentrators were recovered from Town Hall - another restaurant located in the Khan Market area. Hitesh Prakash, the manager of Nege & Ju, reportedly told the police that all the equipment was imported and subsequently sold to the family members of COVID-19 patients through online portals at Rs. 70,000 apiece.
Delhi Police filed 300+ cheating cases in past three weeks
The Delhi Police has filed 303 cases of hoarding, black marketing, and cheating, involving essential drugs and oxygen cylinders/concentrators, in the past three weeks, a report said on Thursday. In fact, 2,822 total units of essential medical equipment were recovered by the cops. The city police has also launched a helpline to lodge complaints about such illegal activities. The number is 011-23469900.
The COVID-19 situation in India
India has been gripped by a dreadful second wave of the coronavirus pandemic amid acute shortages of medical oxygen, hospital beds, ambulances, and even drugs and injections. People across the country are forced to overpay for these necessities or buy them from the black market. In the last 24 hours, India logged 4.14 lakh new cases - the highest-ever one-day surge for any country.
