Delhi HC issues notice to AAP MLA Imran Hussain for allegedly hoarding oxygen cylinders
- In Reports
- 07:32 PM, May 08, 2021
- Myind Staff
On Friday, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to Aam Aadmi Party MLA, Imran Hussain for allegedly hoarding oxygen cylinders. The Bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli also ordered Hussain to be present in court during the hearing on Monday.
This directive came while hearing a plea by one Vedansh Sharma who showed a Facebook post made by the official page of the Delhi Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday relating to free distribution of oxygen cylinders from the party office.
"Let us first find out where is he (Mr. Hussain) procuring it from. Supposing he is not getting it from refillers in Delhi. Supposing he is getting from Faridabad or some other place and he is giving it to some people in his constituency. Then you can’t have any grievance, since he is augmenting supplies in Delhi,” the High Court observed.
"Look at the pictures [Facebook post]. It is not as if there is a hoarder. There are people standing in line with their cylinders and with their mask on,” the High Court added.
According to senior advocate Rahul Mehra, representing the Delhi government, “If at all there is any veracity in these claims, strictest possible action will be taken irrespective of the fact, who that person is. Whether it is Gautam Gambhir or Imran Hussain, anybody who is doing it will not be spared."
On Thursday, the Supreme Court directed the Central government to take into account, the loopholes encountered by people during oxygen allocation, like home quarantine, transportation and ambulance services. The Supreme Court bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah said the centre's existing formula based on the number of beds requires a complete revamp.
According to Justice Chandrachud, "When you prepared the formula, not everyone wanted to go into an ICU. Many required oxygen at home. The centre's formula does not take into account transportation, ambulance, and Covid-care facilities."
Furthermore, the apex court stressed on the need of an oxygen audit.
"We need to do look at the issue pan-India...an oxygen audit is necessary. What is the accountability once stocks are released?" the court asked.
As further developments unravel, two days after Delhi Police conducted raids at three upscale restaurants in Delhi and recovered 524 oxygen concentrators, police have recovered an audio clip where businessman Navneet Kalra, the owner of all three restaurants, is allegedly heard discussing the allotment of the oxygen concentrators.
According to a report by India Today, Delhi Police on Friday recovered 105 oxygen concentrators during raids at two upscale restaurants — 96 from Khan Chacha and 9 from Town Hall — in Delhi's Khan Market. On Thursday, police had recovered 419 oxygen concentrators from a restaurant-cum-bar in south Delhi's Lodhi Colony area.
In the audio clip procured by the Delhi police, Navneet Kalra is heard saying, "I have 2 lakh calls to attend, so I won't be able to answer each and everybody's personal question. Which model is sent to you is detailed in the self-explanatory messages...I can give one machine (oxygen concentrator) per person to the people in Khan Market for their use."
In addition, Matrix Cellular Services, whose CEO was arrested in connection with the Delhi oxygen concentrators hoarding case, has moved the Delhi High Court, demanding the seized goods back. Matrix Cellular's CEO Gourav Khanna was arrested in Gurugram on Friday.
Image courtesy: PTI
Comments