Delhi High Court Dismisses Plea Against AAP MLA Imran Hussain Alleging Hoarding Of Oxygen Cylinders

The Delhi High Court today dismissed an application against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Cabinet Minister Imran Hussain which alleged hoarding of oxygen cylinders by Hussain and their distribution for political gain.

The amicus curiae assisting the court in the Covid-19 batch of pleas, Sr. Adv. Rajshekhar Rao conducted an enquiry into the incident and has submitted a report to the court stating that he has verified that Hussain procured the oxygen from Faridabad and not from Delhi and that he had taken oxygen cylinders on rent from his personal expenses. The state has also verified and found that the local stores in Delhi have not shared any oxygen with the MLA.

Mr. Udit Raj, Special Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, GNCTD, has also filed his response stating that neither GNCTD nor its refillers have given oxygen to Hussain in any form.

Earlier, the AAP Cabinet Minister Imran Hussain was directed to file documents in support of his claim, on a plea alleging hoarding and distribution of oxygen cylinders by the leader from his office at Ballimaran in New Delhi.

The court had also directed the MLA to file his response on the matter and for him to be personally present during the hearing. While Hussain was present during the hearing today, and represented by his counsel Sr. Adv. Vikas Pahwa, it was pointed out by the court that in his 22-page reply "on oath", 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.

Adv. Amit Tiwari for the petitioner, Vedansh Anand submitted that while he had no issues to the distribution if the cylinders were not procured from the official government allocation, PWD Bolero Pick Ups were seen unloading oxygen cylinders in front of another AAP MLA's place as well. He said, "The oxygen is for saving lives, not securing votes."

The plea filed by one Vedansh Anand, pleaded by Adv Amit Tiwari, alleged that it was filed basis a post with pictures posted on the AAP leader's verified Facebook handle, wherein a long queue of people could be seen waiting in line to receive oxygen cylinders from the leader's office. In the pictures, a banner can also be seen to have been put up of the AAP leader, and the Facebook post says, "To make oxygen reach those needing it, in Delhi, Cabinet Minister Imran Hussain 'Free Oxygen Distribution' from his office".

The court has issued notice on the matter, seeking response from the Minister by tomorrow.

The court after hearing the petitioner, observed that after looking at the pictures it didn't seem that there was hoarding at the office.

The plea states that, "Mr. Imran Hussain who is a(n) MLA from Ballimaran and Cabinet Minister in Govt of Delhi is hoarding the oxygen cylinder at the time when the entire Delhi is in the crisis of the supply of the oxygen."

Responding to the plea, Sr. Adv. Rahul Mehra for the Delhi Government suggested that the petitioner was free to file a complaint against the political leader - be he from any party - in order for its veracity to be established.