Lekha G
The Delhi High Court dismissed an application against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Cabinet Minister Imran Hussain that alleged hoarding of oxygen cylinders by Hussain and their arbitrary distribution to public for political gain.
The Plea filed by Vedansh Pahwa stated that, “Mr. Imran Hussain who is an MLA from Ballimaran and Cabinet Minister in Government of Delhi is hoarding the oxygen cylinder at the time when the entire Delhi is in the crisis of the supply of the oxygen”.
The Plea also urged the Court for a special investigation to detect officials behind the supply of the liquid medical oxygen to Hussain.
The Petitioner’s Counsel Advocate Amit Tiwari submitted that the plea was filed on basis of a post on the AAP leader’s verified Facebook handle and claimed that hoarding of cylinders was visible and action be initiated against AAP leader immediately.
It was further stated that in the pictures, a banner could also be seen to have been put up of the AAP leader and the Facebook post read, “To make oxygen reach those needing it in Delhi, Cabinet Minister Imran Hussain ‘Free Oxygen Distribution’ from his office”.
The Court, however, observed that the pictures do not show hoarding and people standing in line taking oxygen cylinders.
The Advocate Rajshekhar Rao submitted a report to the Court stating that he has verified that Mr. Hussain procured the oxygen from Faridabad on rent from his personal expenses and not from Delhi. The state also verified and found that the local stores in Delhi had not shared any oxygen cylinders with the MLA.
Mr. Udit Raj, Special Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, GNCTD, also filed his response stating that neither GNCTD nor its re-fillers had given oxygen to Mr. Hussain in any form.
However, the Court pointed out that in Mr. Hussain’s 22-page reply, not a single document had been filed in support of his claim that 10 cylinders were rented by him in Delhi and the oxygen was sourced from Faridabad.
The Court further issued notice on the matter, seeking response from the Minister by tomorrow.