If my oxygen concentrators are sub-standard, why give them to COVID centres: Navneet Kalra to Delhi court during bail hearing

Businessman Navneet Kalra on Friday accused the Delhi Police of "blowing hot and cold" demanding why the police distributed the Oxygen concentrators seized from him to COVID centres if they were of inferior quality as alleged by them (Navneet Kalra vs State). .Kalra made this argument during the hearing of his bail plea before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM), Saket Court in the case relating to black marketing of Oxygen concentrators.The Delhi Police had seized around 700 concentrators from the famous food outlet, Khan Chacha owned by Kalra after which Kalra was arrested. He was, thereafter, charged for offences under Sections 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, among other provision of law. ."If it is sub standard, why did Delhi police give it to all COVID centres? This is clear cut case of making somebody a scapegoat. 419 oxygen concentrators were taken into custody for COVID care. How can they blow hot and cold?", Senior Advocate Vikas Pahwa argued on behalf Kalra before CMM Arun Garg. ."They are supplying to COVID centres for saving lives. If government can use it, why can't I," Pahwa demanded. .Pahwa also submitted that e-sellers on platforms like Amazon and IndiaMart were also selling the same brand of oxygen concentrators, and at an even higher price. "On Amazon, the same concentrator is for Rs 90,000. I sold for Rs 69,999," he stated. .He further pointed out a tweet to show that even Bollywood actor Salman Khan had imported 500 of the same oxygen concentrators, and that till date, there was no communication from the Government of India that these concentrators were spurious. .While dealing with a report by Sriram laboratory which showed that the oxygen concentrator was working at around 32 percent, Pahwa referred to the website of the brand to show that a 9L capacity equipment was expected to give an output of around 30 percent. ."It's working more than it represents..Does it emit Carbon monoxide or Carbon dioxide? No. According to me it is not sub-standard," Pahwa submitted. .It was also argued that Delhi Police was, in fact, eliciting complaints from Kalra's customers and none of the twenty-one complaints with it were voluntary. ."I had good intentions. I did an alternate work to pay salary to my employees. If out of 700-800 people, 7-8 people have been overcharged only to give warranty, it is not cheating," it was contended. .Since no more recoveries have to be made from Kalra, there is no need to detain him further, it was submitted. "I have deep roots in the society. My businesses are here. Denial of bail at this stage... I've valuable constitutional rights. Investigation may go on. I'm claiming parity on bail," Pahwa submitted. .Importantly, it was also reiterated that the price/MRP of oxygen concentrator is not regulated by the government. ."If government wants, they can fix it..why does the government not regulate it. Black Marketing is not invoked because MRP is not fixed," he said..Advocate Vineet Malhotra also appeared for Kalra. .Prosecution will argue against Kalra's bail application tomorrow. .Kalra was sent to 14-day judicial custody in the case by the Metropolitan Magistrate after it opined that no case was made out for further extension of police custody..Earlier this month, the Delhi High Court had declined to grant any interim relief to Kalra in connection with the case.