Two CATS paramedics arrested for black marketing of oxygen cylinders with CATS ambulance service
New Delhi, May 10
The Delhi Police arrested two CATS paramedics arrested for black marketing of oxygen cylinders with CATS ambulance service.
The accused were identified as Pawan Dinesh (21) from Dakshinpuri and his aide Vipin Nagar, also a paramedic.
The police said that a PCR call was received at Ambedkar Nagar police station that the oxygen cylinders were being sold at exorbitant prices.
The complainant, Suman Das was contacted who stated that a person with mobile number posted a message on social media regarding supply of oxygen cylinders for patient suffering from Covid-19. When she contacted the number, the person demanded Rs 90,000 for a 50 litre oxygen cylinder.
The police registered a case under section 420, 188 of the Indian Penal Code, 51(B) Disaster Management act & 3 Epidemic disease act and took up investigations.
The officials added that since the team had only one phone number on which the complainant had contacted, technical surveillance was mounted and also local intelligence was developed.
After thorough technical investigation the police zeroed in on Pawan and apprehended him.
Pawan revealed to police that for the past two years he is working as paramedics with CATS ambulance services. The medical background of Pawan raised an alarm in the minds of the investigation team, as a result the team got suspicious.
The officials stated that the mobile phone of Pawan was scanned by the investigation team and various clues were discovered. It was found that many people had contacted Pawan specially on his WhatsApp for oxygen cylinders and that he was charging Rs 40000/- for 15 litre cylinder and Rs 90,000/- for 50 litre cylinders.
The team then checked his Paytm app and found that he had received huge amount of money on his Paytm a/c. This money was found transferred to his saving a/c and was finally withdrawn by him.
Elaborating more on the accused, police said that Pawan is a trained para-medic and works with CATS Ambulance. The oxygen cylinders were being issued to ambulances for transporting critically ill-patients. The accused managed to get his mobile number publicised on Instagram for supply of oxygen cylinder and soon he started receiving demand for oxygen cylinders, and he started mis-appropriating oxygen cylinders that were being issued for ambulances. He used to receive the amount on his Paytm account which was further transferred to his two saving accounts in Axis bank and PNB bank and later the amount was withdrawn.
The accused was being helped by Vipin Nagar and third person Rohit Nagar who are also para-medics and pilot in different “CATS” station in arranging oxygen cylinders.
The police also carried out a raid at the warehouse of accused Pawan. Two oxygen cylinders (one 50 litres and one 15 litres) were recovered alongwith 32 PPE kits and cash Rs one Lakh was also recovered from his house.
Pawan confirmed that this amount was collected/received by selling oxygen cylinder, officials added.
The police are further investigating the case to find involment of more persons and victims the paramedics and allegedly cheated.
