A Delhi court has refused to grant anticipatory bail to ‘Khan Chacha’ restaurant owner Navneet Kalra in connection with a case of hoarding and black advertising of oxygen concentrators in New Delhi. The Delhi Police have recovered 524 oxygen concentrators from 3 restaurants owned by Kalra and it is suspected that he has left Delhi along with his family. Amid the increasing COVID-19 instances, these concentrators are in substantial demand to aid COVID-19 patients facing breathing concerns.
Earlier yesterday, Additional Session Judge Sandeep Garg had reserved the order on the pre-arrest bail right after hearing the arguments of each the prosecution and defence.
Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava had opposed Kalra’s anticipatory bail plea saying that his custodial interrogation is essential. He claimed that bail really should not be granted as he is an influential individual. The Public Prosecutor claimed that had the police not busted the racket, Kalra would have cheated a lot of people today by promoting the concentrators at a larger cost. He claimed that Navneet Kalra began the company of oxygen concentrators out of greed. To prove his point of cheating, the prosecutor also apprised the court about a lab report which showed that the seized oxygen concentrators are of poor high quality and their working capacity is only 20.8 per cent.
Appearing for Kalra, senior advocate Vikas Pahwa defended his client by asking the court how he can be accused of promoting the oxygen concentrators at exorbitant costs if there is no ceiling cost fixed by the government. Pahwa emphasised that selective leaks are made by the Delhi Police against Kalra and claimed that he is getting made a scapegoat to divert the consideration from core concerns.
He submitted that Kalra will seem prior to the agencies inside two hours, along with his phone if offered an chance. The advocate claimed that considering that the jails are also getting decongested, Pahwa really should be granted anticipatory bail.