Mumbai: Oxygen black-marketing racket busted in Sakinaka, two arrested

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In a joint operation Mumbai Police's Crime Branch along with the Food and Drug department and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation seized 31 oxygen cylinders and 5 oxygen kits stored in the godown in Mumbai.

Officials of unit 10 had received information that few people were engaged in illegal stocking of medical oxygen cylinders and selling them at hiked rates in the market. Two persons have been arrested in the matter and they have been handed over to the Sakinaka Police for further action.

On Saturday, 15th May, cops at Unit 10 received a tip-off about black-marketing of medical oxygen cylinder. Cops with teams of FDA and BMC raided a garment godown called Bombay Creation at Sakinaka and seized 10 medical oxygen cylinders and 5 oxygen cylinder kits which the owner purchased for black marketing during this pandemic.

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"We have nabbed Ismail Kasim Ali Ansari, (38) and during further enquiry, cops seized another 21 medical oxygen cylinders from a vendor who was selling oxygen cylinders with hiked rates than the market prices. The vendor, Sachin Singh (38), didn't have a proper license for the same. In total 31 medical oxygen cylinders and 5 oxygen cylinder kits worth Rs. Two lakh eight five thousand," told Inspector Kiran Londhe, incharge of Unit 10.

After thorough enquiry, offence was registered at Sakinaka police station under IPC section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and relevant sections of Essential commodity Act 1955, Drug and cosmetic Act 1940. Both accused were handed over to Sakinaka police station for further investigation.