Oxygen concentrator stock was for legitimate sale, seizure baseless, misconceived: Matrix Cellular tells Delhi High Court

Matrix Cellular (International) Services Ltd has moved the Delhi High Court to immediately release its oxygen concentrator stock seized by Delhi Police from locations in Lodhi Colony and Mehrauli (Matrix Cellular (International) Services Ltd vs State). .In its petition, Matrix asserted that on account of the unfortunate circumstances prevailing in the country on account of the COVID – 19 pandemic, it started importing and acquiring oxygen concentrators and allied equipment from its suppliers to legitimately sell to its customers through an online portal..In order to avoid overcrowding at its offices, stock was moved to a designated alternate location, such as a restaurant - ‘Nege Ju’, as a "collection point" for the oxygen concentrators and related equipment, it was stated. .However, the authorities, on May 5, entered the premises of the collection centre, as well as the Matrix Office, and seized all the products on a "baseless and misconceived allegation" that the stock was as part of black-market operation and dispatched the same to an unknown location, it was argued. .Matrix contended that that there was no basis for the arbitrary, irresponsible and highly capricious conduct on part of the authorities in seizing essential commodities such as the oxygen concentrators when people in Delhi are in dire need of the same. ."This seizure is baseless in law and is entirely without merit since the same fails to disclose any offence whatsoever and despite the same, the Petitioner is being subjected to arbitrary, whimsical and grossly irresponsible seizure of the Petitioner’s products from the Collection Centre and the office premises of the Petitioner," it was submitted. .After hearing the case, a single-judge Bench of Justice Yogesh Khanna called for a status report was called from the Delhi Police in the matter. .The matter would be heard next on May 13. .Seizure of oxygen concentrators from Khan Market: Delhi court declines to grant interim relief to businessman Navneet Kalra.Senior Advocates Mohit Mathur, Trideep Pais with Advocates Samudra Sarangi, Sherbir Panag, Shruti Raina, Srishti Khare, Nishtha Agarwal, Abhilasha Khanna, Moha Paranjape, Nitya Jain, Sumit Misra, Sanya Kumar appeared for the petitioner, Matrix. .Standing Counsel Sanjay Lao with Advocate Kamna Vohra appeared for Prosecution. .[Read Order]