Delhi Oxygen Crisis

The court will hear Kalra's bail plea on May 25. Kalra was sent to 14-day judicial custody in the case, as the court decided that no case was made out for further extension of police custody. He was arrested on May 16 from his brother-in-law's farmhouse in Gurugram and then remanded to three days' police custody.

Additional sessions judge, Saket court, Sandeep Garg passed the order rejecting anticipatory bail to Kalra. Senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, representing Kalra, had argued that his client had only carried out a legitimate transaction of import and customs authorities were activated, and the customs was aware of the transaction. "The GST was deposited with the government. Invoices were given and returns were filed," Pahwa had contended.

The order was passed by Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Saket court, Arun Kumar Garg and bail was subjected to a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and surety of like amount. The court granted bail in case registered after a stock of oxygen concentrators was seized by the Delhi Police from locations in Lodhi Colony and Mehrauli last week. All five accused were arrested by the Delhi Police last week soon after the raids.

Addressing a press conference, BJP's West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma said: "It is shocking that Delhi government is seizing oxygen cylinders of socio-religious organisations doing free distribution while its Minister is found hoarding 650 oxygen cylinders."

The remarks of Sisodia, who is also the nodal minister for Covid management in Delhi, came a day after the BJP-led Centre blamed the Delhi government for demanding oxygen more than its actual need and demanded for an audit of oxygen supply on the basis of number of patients in the national capital. Sisodia said that Delhi requires a minimum of 700 MT oxygen supply daily to cater to the growing number of patients.

According to senior Delhi Police sources related to the probe, the oxygen concentrators were being imported from China since October 2020 for as low as Rs 12,000 to Rs 20,000 and were being sold via online portals and WhatsApp between Rs 50,000 to Rs 70,000. The sources said that the police has recovered several WhatsApp messages the discussing sale of concentrators.

"Now that Delhi has received oxygen, no one in Delhi should suffer because of shortage of oxygen. All the hospitals in Delhi should increase their beds. District Magistrates have been directed to ensure adequate oxygen beds in their districts so that no deaths happen due to lack of oxygen in Delhi," Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a statement.