2 weeks ago
Bengaluru activist gets customs relief on donated Covid oxygen concentrators
During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals needed special machines called oxygen concentrators to help sick people breathe.
A kind person in Bengaluru named Vinay Kumar helped bring about 700 of these machines from Europe.
He raised money and worked with friends from a German group to send them to people for free.
Years later, the customs office sent him a very big bill asking for taxes on the machines.
They said the machines were for personal use, which was not true.
Vinay went to a special court to explain that he had donated the machines to help people.
In August, the court agreed with him and canceled the bill.
The judge said Vinay was honest and transparent in everything he did.
Now he does not have to worry about paying the money.
Bengaluru activist Vinay Kumar won the dismissal of a Rs 35 lakh customs duty notice on imported oxygen concentrators.
He coordinated the fundraising and delivery of approximately 700 oxygen concentrators from Europe in May 2021.
The devices were imported and donated free of charge during the COVID-19 pandemic with help from German contacts in the group Technology Without Borders.
Customs officials had claimed the concentrators were imported for 'personal use' when issuing the notice this March.
On August 5, a customs court ruled there was no collusion, wilful misstatement, or suppression of facts by the importer.
- Who
- Vinay Kumar, a Bengaluru activist from Rajajinagar known for his Reclaim Constitution initiative, and the NGO through which the concentrators were routed.
- What
- A customs court dismissed a Rs 35 lakh customs duty demand on approximately 700 oxygen concentrators donated free of charge.
- Where
- Bengaluru, India, at a customs court.
- When
- The concentrators were imported in May 2021, the duty notice was received this March, and the court ruling came on August 5.
- Why
- The court found no evidence of collusion, wilful misstatement, or suppression of facts, and noted the importer acted with transparency at all stages.
Key facts
- Activist
- Vinay Kumar of Rajajinagar, Bengaluru
- Duty demand dismissed
- Rs 35 lakh
- Oxygen concentrators
- Approximately 700, donated free of charge
- Import origin
- Europe, coordinated with German group Technology Without Borders
- Import date
- May 2021
- Notice received
- This March
- Court ruling date
- August 5
- Ruling
- No collusion, wilful misstatement, or suppression of facts found
Quotes
Customs Court Judge
Judge presiding over the customs duty case
“"The importer acted with transparency at all stages of import, assessment and audit….there is no evidence to establish any collusion, wilful misstatement, or suppression of facts."”
indianexpress.com











