Nagpur, March 15, 2020:
Nagpur Police have seized fake hand sanitizers, which were being supplied to the market in bulk in the wake of rising cases of novel coronavirus in India.
This comes a day after around 5,000 bottles of fake hand sanitizers were seized in Gurugram. Sanitizers and face masks were declared essential commodities for the next 100 days to boost supply of these products and prevent hoarding.
Nagpur Police have also arrested two persons for supplying the hand sanitizers. The accused have been identified as Vickey Jairamdas Khanchandani (40) and Jitendra Jaikishan Mulani (42), both residents of Jaripatka.
Police Inspector Hemantkumar Kharabe of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) Police station informed that the accused were selling the fake hand sanitizers at medical stores and grocery shops.
“Some medical store owners suspected the quality of the sanitizers and caught hold of the accused persons. Staff of the MIDC Police station rushed to the spot and arrested the accused,” said Police Inspector Kharabe.
The police have seized 52 fake hand sanitizers from their possession. Investigation has also revealed that the accused had imported the liquid for the sanitizer from Madhya Pradesh and mixed tap water and spirit in it, he said.
The fake sanitizers were being packed at their residence in Jaripatka and transported to the market by themselves, he informed. The accused were selling the sanitizers in the name of Bactor Germs Shield Hand Sanitizers.
The police have also seized their mobile phones and a motorcycle of the accused persons. An offence under Sections 270, 274, 275 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The arrest was made by Senior PI Hemantkumar Kharabe, PI Rajesh Pukale, Police Sub-Inspector Devanand Bagmare and staff, including Mangesh Gavai, Amol Thakre and Vickey Meshram.
Inspector Kharabe said that searches would be conducted at the residence of the accused persons. “More arrests would be made soon,” he said.
It may be mentioned here that considering the gravity of the situation, the centre has invoked the Disaster Management Act to ensure price regulation and availability of surgical and protective masks, hand sanitizers and gloves.
The 2 ply & 3 ply surgical masks, N95 masks and hand sanitizers have been brought under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, empowering the States to regulate the production, distribution, and prices of these items and also crackdown on hoarding and black-marketing.
The central, State and Union Territories governments will now regulate the production, quality, and distribution of the essential commodities for the smooth sale and availability of these items. Additionally, it has empowered governments to carry out operations against speculators and those involved in overpricing and black marketing.
The total number of positive COVID-19 cases has crossed the century-mark till the filing of this report. The State Governments have prohibited mass gatherings in order to combat further spread of the virus. Educational institutions have also been directed to remain closed till March 31.
In India, eleven states – Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala, are the worst-hit so far. The US Embassy and Consulates in the country have cancelled all visa appointments from March 16 in the wake of coronavirus outbreak. A statement issued by the US Embassy here said, “US Mission India posts, in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic, are cancelling immigrant and non-immigrant visa appointments from March 16, 2020, onward.”
Shopping malls, theaters, night clubs, pubs, and swimming pools will remain shut. Sports activities have also been postponed, including IPL.
Support Inside Northeast (InsideNE), an independent media platform that focuses on Citizen-centric stories from Northeast India that are surprising, inspiring, cinematic and emotionally relevant.
Readers like you make Inside Northeast’s work possible.
To support our brand of fearless and investigative journalism, support us HERE.
Download:
The Inside Northeast app HERE for News, Views, and Reviews from Northeast India.
Do keep following us for news on-the-go. We deliver the Northeast.
Image Courtesy - ANI
