The Delhi High Court has dismissed the bail plea of businessman Navneet Kalra, who is accused of money laundering in connection with the alleged black marketing of oxygen concentrators during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Kalra, who was arrested on May 16, had moved the high court seeking bail on the grounds that he was not a flight risk and that there was no evidence to show that he had committed any offence. However, the court rejected his plea, saying that the allegations against him were serious and that he could tamper with evidence if released on bail.
The case against Kalra is based on a complaint filed by the Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) alleging that he had hoarded and sold oxygen concentrators at exorbitant prices during the Covid-19 crisis. The EOW had also conducted raids at his restaurants and properties in Delhi, seizing several oxygen concentrators and other medical equipment. Kalra has denied all charges against him, claiming that he had only procured the oxygen concentrators for his personal use and that he had not sold them at inflated prices.
The Delhi High Court’s decision to reject Kalra’s bail plea is a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the alleged black marketing of medical equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic. The case has highlighted the issue of hoarding and profiteering in times of crisis, and has sparked public outrage and calls for stricter laws to prevent such practices. The court’s decision sends a strong message that those who engage in such activities will face serious consequences, and that the law will not tolerate such behaviour.
