Vaccination Fraud: Mumbai police register three more FIRs against 6 accused, doctor couple being questioned

Vaccination Fraud: Mumbai police register three more FIRs against 6 accused, doctor couple being questioned

Faisal Tandel Priyanka NavalkarUpdated: Thursday, June 24, 2021, 11:18 PM IST
article-image
Vaccination Fraud: Mumbai police register two more FIRs against 6 accused, doctor couple being questioned | AFP Photo

Mumbai: The Mumbai police registered three more FIRs on Thursday in the fake vaccination drive carried out at different places of Mumbai. The FIR comes after similar complaints were registered at Kandivali, Versova, Khar and Borivali. The police believe the same group had organised the vaccination camps at all these places.

On Thursday morning, Bhoiwada police registered a case against six people for giving fake vaccines to 207 staff members of Podar Education Centre in Parel. Bhoiwada police have registered the case, on the complaint given by Shankar Kesari (37), the purchase manager based with Podar Education Centre in Parel. Kesari in his complaint to police said they had organised a vaccination drive for the staff of the school. Accordingly, on May 28 and 29, 2021, 207 staff members were vaccinated through the group, said a police officer.

The Bhoiwada police have registered a case against six people including Mahendra Singh, Shrikant Mane, Seema Singh and three others. "The accused who claim to be doctors carried out the vaccination drive. They gave a certificate of Nanavati and Lifeline Care hospitals after vaccination and took around Rs 2,44,800 for the drive," added the police officer.

Vinod Kamble, senior police inspector, Bhoiwada police station confirmed that a case has been registered against six people. "After the education centre came to know about the fake vaccination drive by the same group, they approached us and accordingly after verification we filed a complaint against six people. We are further investigating on how they secured the vaccine and certificates, which are fake," said Kamble.

On Thursday evening, a sixth FIR was lodged at Bangur Nagar police station against the same persons arrested by Kandivali Police. Bangur Nagar police station registered the case after Bank of Baroda employees approached the police and claimed that 40 people were given vaccinations in phases by the three accused from the accused arrested by Kandivali police.

Bank of Baroda employees claimed that they too were administered ‘Covishield’ by the gang led by Mahendra Singh, who had orchestrated the fake vaccination drive. In the FIR, the complainant has said that Mahendra, who had been a account holder in the bank's Malad branch since 2013, often offered any medical help he could do for the staffers as he was associated as a clerk in the medical association.

Subsequently, the bank staffers had approached Mahendra, to conduct a vaccination drive in April, to which he affirmed and conducted drive in four phases- on April 10, 15, 20 and May 25, where 10, 2, 3 and 35 people were vaccinated respectively. Mahendra was present in the first phase. The first two vaccination drives were conducted at Shivam Hospital, the other two were conducted in the bank's branch. In the drive conducted on May 25, 13 persons received their second doses. Mahendra, Qareem Ali and Sanjay Gupta were present on the spot, said police officials.

In the 40 vaccinations, the gang has duped ₹30,500 from the bank employees. Also, only 10 staffers who were vaccinated for the first time, received certificates, said police officials.

On Thursday night, Borivali police station registered another FIR against the accused for carrying out vaccination at Mansi Share & Stock advisor in Shimpoli where 514 people were administered the vaccines. The FIR has been registered against Mahendra Singh, Sanjay Gupta and two employees of a travelling firm-- Shrikant Mane and Seema Ahuja. 100 people received certificates of the vaccination which was conducted on May 26 and 27, which are yet to be verified, said police officials. Police said that Mane and Ahuja, were out of work due to the COVID induced lockdown, which is why they planned to organize a vaccination drive along with Singh and Gupta. The complainant in this case, a BMC doctor, said in her statement that doctors associated with Shivam Hospital were present during the vaccination drive. Meanwhile, Kandivali Police are questioning a doctor couple in connection to the fake vaccination drive.

RECENT STORIES

Mumbai Weather Update: Breezy Morning With Rising Temperatures Expected; AQI Concerns Persist

Mumbai Weather Update: Breezy Morning With Rising Temperatures Expected; AQI Concerns Persist

Mumbai Crime: Man Pays Contract Killers ₹3 Lakh To Kill Father-In-Law

Mumbai Crime: Man Pays Contract Killers ₹3 Lakh To Kill Father-In-Law

Mumbai: Man Orchestrates Murder Of Father-In-Law; 4 Arrested

Mumbai: Man Orchestrates Murder Of Father-In-Law; 4 Arrested

Bombay High Court Orders Audit Of Industries Causing High Air Pollution

Bombay High Court Orders Audit Of Industries Causing High Air Pollution

Mumbai: Hit-And-Run Leaves 51-Year-Old Ragpicker Dead

Mumbai: Hit-And-Run Leaves 51-Year-Old Ragpicker Dead