Based on accounts, on Tuesday, February 15, five men were nabbed for allegedly selling negative COVID-19 reports to fliers from abroad who were positive. It has been reported that the accused are employees of the Acu-MDx laboratories.
According to narratives, they had the responsibility to submit the report’s printouts to the travellers after collecting their blood samples for testing at the lab in Ghatkopar.
The said lab is claimed to be given the contract by the airport authority to undertake random RT-PCR tests on those travellers to India from a variety of locations that include the likes of South Africa and Gulf nations.
Reports are doing the rounds that the lab was accorded the contract in February 2021, with officers from the police adding that the lab has four branches in locations that include Mumbai, Delhi, Jodhpur and Kota.
Sahar police officials have identified the five accused as Rupesh Chaudhari, Sunny Singh, Pawan Mallaha, Shubham Mane and Rahul Gurav, cited narratives. These individuals were reportedly given the responsibility of acquiring the samples of the passengers for a fee of INR 1,975 and via a carrier send it to the lab in Ghatkopar.
Accounts elaborate on how in three hours, the culprits would receive the report from the lab and then give it to the passenger. The police have however added that two more men are involved in the scam that was uncovered after observance for five days.
It was on February 9 that the police officers attained information on a scam at the airport wherein positive coronavirus patients were given negative reports for INR 5,000- 10,000 fee. After the tip-off, the suspects were kept on a watch and were nabbed with fake negative RT-PCR tests, highlighted reports.
On February 10, the in-charge of the lab was also apprised about the wrongdoings post which he registered a complaint. The five were arrested under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. While they were presented in court on Wednesday, February 16, they have been remanded to police custody for four days, mentioned an official in reports.
Also Read: Thane: Police Busted A Gang Selling Fake COVID-19 Vaccine Certificates For ₹2000
Share
Tweet
