New Delhi: A day after the horrible acid attack on a school girl in New Delhi, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has written to the CEOs of two online retail platforms, seeking an explanation for selling acid online when the selling is already declared illegal by the government.
The letter comes after the accused – the boyfriend of the girl- who threw acid on the class XII student confessed during interrogation that he had purchased the deadly acid from a popular online retail giant.
In a one-page letter, Chairperson of DCW Swati Maliwal wrote: “The Commission has been informed that the girl was going to her school when two bike riders threw acid over her. The girl is presently admitted to a hospital in serious condition. The Commission has learned that the accused person had bought acid through the online shopping portal”.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police also issued a notice to one of the retail platforms from where the acid was procured from. A senior police officer confirmed that they have issued a notice to the e-commerce major seeking details of the order placed by the accused.
Also read: All 3 accused in Delhi acid attack arrested, victim stable: 10 points
Special Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Sagar Preet Hooda had on Wednesday said that the acid used in the attack was procured through the e-commerce portal and payment was made by the main accused Sachin Arora through an e-wallet.
Meanwhile, in her letter, Maliwal pointed out how acid was available easily on major online retail portals. “The ease of availability of acid on online platforms is a matter of grave concern and needs to be checked urgently”.
Asking for information regarding the availability of acid on the e-shopping platforms, the letter asked whether license of the seller was checked before posting the acid product on the online platform. And the letter also wanted an explanation in case the details of the purchaser were not sought.
The letter also wanted to know “whether photo IDs of those purchasing the acid were sought?” “If yes, please provide a complete list of the purchasers along with their photo IDs. If no, please provide reasons for the same. Please provide a copy of the license obtained by the platform for selling acid online,” the letter asked.
Asking to provide a detailed explanation by December 20, the letter said, “Please provide a copy of the policy adopted by the platform regarding sale of government-regulated products online. If there is no policy, please provide reason for the same Please inform the steps taken for removing restricted items including acid from the online portal,”.
