News Analysis India

Tag: Kumbh Mela 2021

  • Kumbh fake Covid testing: Investigation report to be submitted soon to Uttarakhand govt officials

    By Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: District administrator of Haridwar is likely to submit a report on the alleged fake Covid-19 testing scam that took place during the Haridwar Kumbh Mela.

    The report once finalised will be forwarded to senior authorities in the Uttarakhand government for further action. 

    “The investigation is on and the report will be submitted to the DM this week only. The probe involves too many factors enmasse which is why it took over a month,” said an official involved in the probe.

    An inquiry was ordered on June 10 by the Haridwar district administration. The DM had directed to complete the inquiry within 15 days but extension was granted after request made by the officials probing the the scam. 

    Till date around 65,000 phone numbers, registered in the testing camp, have been cross-checked. While close to 25,000 are yet to be verified.

    Officials said that there is no short cut for this as they have to go through each and every number individually by calling and verifying the details.

    Earlier this month, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) had added Section 467 (Forgery of valuable security, will, etc) in the already registered FIR against a firm and two pathology laboratories accused of irregularities in Covid-19 testing in Kumbh.

    Cases were registered last month under sections of Epidemic Act, 1897, Disaster Management Act, 2005, IPC 420 (forgery), 468(forgery), 471(fraudulently using as genuine any document or electronic record), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 188 (punishment for disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant),  269 and 270 (likely to spread infection).

    Meanwhile, the role of Chief Medical Officer of Haridwar has come under scanner in the ongoing SIT probe.

    The CMO of Haridwar Dr SK Jha, now posted as CMO of Rudraprayag district, was tasked with providing free first-aid services at Kedarnath last year.

    The same lab was also conducting Covid-19 tests in Haridwar during Kumbh. This angle is also being probed by the SIT officials. 

  • Kumbh Mela ‘fake’ Covid testing: FIR registered against one firm, two path labs

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand police on Thursday registered case against one firm and two pathology labs for allegedly forging over one lakh Covid-19 tests during Kumbh Mela in Haridwar district.

    A case has been registered at Nagar Kotwali police station of the district against Max Corporate Service (MCS) and two private laboratories, Delhi-based Lal Chandani Lab and Hissar-based Nalwa lab, on the complaint of Haridwar district’s Chief Medical Officer.

    Senior superintendent of police Senthil Avoodai Krishna Raj S said, “case has been registered under sections of epidemic act, IPC 420 (forgery), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 269 and 270 (likely to spread infection).”

    Out of 90,000 negative reports by the lab, atleast 36,000 are said to be fake.

    The lab tested around one lakh people out of which 10,000 reports by the lab were Covid-19 positive while 90,000 were certified as Covid negative.

    ALSO READ | Haridwar’s positivity rate during Kumbh reported to be 80 per cent lesser than rest of Uttarakhand

    District magistrate of Haridwar C Ravishankar said, “The case has been registered and inquiry in the matter is already underway. A special investigation team (SIT) will be formed for the investigation.”

    Meanwhile, Uttarakhand CM Tirath Singh Rawat said that the matter related to fake testing in Kumbh took place before he was sworn in as the Chief Minister.

    “I was sworn in as Chief Minister in March and the fake testing matter is old. I was in Delhi when I came to know about this and had ordered inquiry immediately. Investigation is underway in the matter and strictest of actions will be taken against those who are responsible,” said the Tirath Singh Rawat.

    Former Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat commenting on the issue said, “This is not only about financial irregularities but concern people’s lives. These are unprecedented times when we are battling with Covid pandemic and such wrong deeds cost lives. Those responsible for fake testing in Kumbh must be brought to justice.”

    Opposition has already been demanding inquiry on higher levels including the investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation. 

    State spokesperson of Indian National Congress Deepak Balutia said, “The government has failed to protect people and now this. This cannot happen without involvment of high officials and others in the government. We demand CBI inquiry of this scam.”

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