Using Pandemic To Make Money: Delhi Man Selling Oxygen In Black Market Held With 48 Cylinders

At a time when thousands of COVID-19 patients, both in hospital and at home are struggling to get medical oxygen, some anti-social elements are using it as an opportunity to make money.

A man was arrested in Delhi for allegedly selling oxygen cylinders at an inflated price to COVID-19 patients.

The accused, identified as Anil Kumar, a resident of Dashrath Puri was arrested after the police received a tip-off about his business.

ANI

What happened?

Based on the input, a raid was conducted at Kumar's house and the police recovered a total of 48 cylinders, including 32 big and 16 small ones from him.

The police stated that Anil Kumar, aged 51, is the owner of the house and he is into the trade of supplying industrial gases.

ANI

"He does not have any licence for it. The gas involved is combustible in its present form. He used to transfer gas into small cylinders from large cylinders and sell them at Rs 12,500 per piece to the needy. His main godown is in Mayapuri which will be searched during the investigation of the case so registered under relevant sections of the law," informed the police.

The police further stated that the seized cylinders will be released by the court on Saturday to an authorised gas vendor or needy hospital in times of the pandemic, which may help save many lives.

ANI

Hoarding and black marketing of oxygen has become rampant in Delhi at a time when the number of COVID-19 cases is at an all-time high and thousands more are becoming dependent on oxygen to keep them alive.

Even hospitals are struggling to ensure enough supply of oxygen for patients there due to the acute shortage and many were forced to discharge those admitted there.