How fake COVID certificate scam was busted in Hyderabad
74 fake RT-PCR Covid-19 reports, 50, fake COVID-vaccination certificates, 20 sample collection kits, and three cell phones were recovered from their possession.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 22 Jan 2022 10:24 AM IST
Hyderabad: Commissioner's Task Force, South Zone Team, Hyderabad along with Malakpet and Humayun Nagar police busted two gangs involved in selling fake RT-PCR Covid-19 reports and vaccination certificates to gullible people.
Police have so far arrested six people of both gangs. The accused have been identified as P Laxman, 30, Owner of Home Care Diagnostic Services, Asmannagar, and Prabhath Kumar Sangi, 45 of Nampally.
Other accused have been identified as Tariq Habeeb, 28, of Image Diagnostic Centre, Asif Nagar, Hyderabad, Gulam Musthafa Shakeel, 48, travel agent of Mehdipatnam, Abdul Basheer, 37, travel agent of Asif Nagar and Irfan Ur Rub Ansari, 32 of Rajendra Nagar.
74 fake RT-PCR Covid-19 reports, 50, fake COVID-vaccination certificates, 20 sample collection kits, and three cell phones were recovered from their possession.
Police said P Laxman, a native of Mahaboobnagar completed Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT) in 2012 and worked as a lab technician at different diagnostic centers. A year ago, he opened the `Home Care Diagnostic Services Center' at AsmanGhad, Malakpet, Hyderabad.
Later, he tied up with MedcisPathlabs India Private Limited, Hyderabad to send samples for testing.
Police said in the present situation, there is a huge demand for RT-PCR tests from travelers. "Originally the test is conducted by collecting swabs from Nose and Throat. The swab is diluted with Viral Transport Media (liquid) for further analysis. Sensing the demand, Laxman hatched a plan to earn more money. He used to send dummy samples to MadcisPathlabs. For issuing a negative report, he used to charge Rs.2, 000 to Rs. 3000," police said.
In another related case, police said accused Tariq Habeeb completed a Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT) at Medwin College, Nampally in 2018. Later, he worked as a lab technician at different diagnostic centers.
One year back, he opened the `Image Diagnostic Center' at Murad Nagar, Asif Nagar, Hyderabad. Later, he tied up with different labs to send his collected samples for testing.
Police said a vaccination certificate is mandatory for traveling abroad. "Tariq Habeeb hatched a plan to earn money from the customers. He colluded with Kumari, a computer operator at Afzal Sagar, Urban Primary Health Centre, Humayunnagar, and started selling the vaccination certificates to the customers without administering a dose. Likewise, he also provided fake RT-PCR Certificates," police said.
Police said the accused duo have been cheating innocent people and charging huge money. "For a vaccination certificate, they used to charge Rs 800 to Rs. 1000. Mostly, the travel agents are encouraging fake vaccination and RT-PCR Test certificates," police said.
