Fake vaccination scam: How did scamsters source vials bound for Gujarat?

The Charkop-based Shivam Hospital. File pics

The recently filed charge sheet in the vaccination scam has revealed that the vials used were supposed to be routed to Daman and Silvassa in Gujarat. According to the police's investigation, the batch numbers on the vials show that they were supplied by HLL Lifecare Limited, Thiruvananthapuram, to Central Drugs Testing Laboratory (CDTL), Mumbai Central.

From here, they were supposed to be sent to Gujarat. The mystery now is how exactly did the vials end up with Shivam Hospital.

Shivraj Pataria, owner of Shivam Hospital and one of the main accused

The batch numbers, according to the 2,000-page charge sheet, have also been mentioned on the fake vaccination certificates issued to around 390 residents of the Hiranandani Heritage society in Kandivli. The certificates bore the names of Nanavati Hospital, NESCO COVID centre and Lifeline Medicare Hospital, Goregaon.

The Serum Institute of India (SII) has said to the police that the batch numbers on the vials were destined for Gujarat. Police are yet to figure out how the vials ended up in Mumbai.

Also read: Fake vaccination scam: In 2,000-page charge sheet, police say accused only wanted money

One of the vials used in the fake vaccination scam

The Covishield vial batch numbers in question are 4121Z037 and 4121Z085. These are also mentioned on the provisional vaccination certificates which the accused created for Hiranandani Heritage residents. The vials were supplied between March 6 and April 26.

The SII has also told the Mumbai police that Shivam Hospital required one lakh doses of Covishield but that they never supplied any doses to the hospital. Police are verifying how Shivam Hospital brought the vials meant for Gujarat to Mumbai and how the batch numbers were mentioned on certificates of Mumbai residents. Each batch has around 2.3 to 2.4 lakh vials (of 10 doses each).

Forensic tests

The Kandivli police had sent the empty vials to the Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratories (FSL), Kalina, and the results of the analysis are awaited. Empty vials were also sent to the Haffkine Institute in Parel. The institute has told the police that the tests would take time as COVID-19 and the Covishield are a new disease and vaccine respectively.

Seized items

The police have seized eight vials of Covishield vaccine and 10 ml sterile water for injection IP, an empty vial of Covaxin, 100 ml sodium chloride injection and CCTV footage from Shivam Hospital.

Witnesses

So far, the Kandivli police have recorded statements of 623 people, including 503 witnesses. The witnesses include police, BMC personnel and hospital staff.

The accused in the scam are: Mahendra Singh, 39, Sanjay Gupta, 29, Nitin Monde, 32, Chandan Singh, 32, Chandan Singh, 32, Mohammad Karim Ali, 19, Gudiya Yadav, 24, Shivraj Pataria, 62, Nita Pataria, 60, Manish Tripathi, 26, Rajesh Pandey, 47, and Rahul Dubey, 33. The accused were booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, the IT Act, the Epidemic Diseases Act, and the Disaster Management Act.

Mahendra and Dubey are involved in destroying evidence - while the former disposed of all mobile phones used in the scam, Dubey destroyed 38 vaccine vials at Panvel. Nitin, Chandan and Yadav stole IDs and passwords for the CoWIN portal.

Students threatened

Main accused Tripathi, who ran the KCEP School of Medical and Paramedical Sciences, made his students work in the vaccination camp by threatening to cut 150 marks. He created a WhatsApp group called KCEP Yoddha where the students were added. Two such students told the police that they had visited Hiranandani Heritage society for the vaccination camp on May 30 and that they found the seals of the vaccine vials to be broken. When they questioned Tripathi about it, they were told that all vials come in this state. Tripathi also promised the students passing certificates and Rs 1,500 for working in the camp. However, none of the students has received the passing certificates or payments. Tripathi also conducted trials at his institute on giving the vaccine where injections were filled with sterile water and students practised by administering them to each other.

FIRs so far

There are total 12 FIRs in the scam registered at various city police stations in Mumbai - Kandivli, Borivli (two FIRs), Bangur Nagar, MIDC, Khar, Versova, Amboli, Samta Nagar, Bhoiwada, Naupada and Andheri police stations. One FIR was also registered at Rabale police station in Navi Mumbai.

Malad doctor cheated

A 66-year-old MBBS doctor from Malad was also cheated by accused Mahendra. The doctor has been made a witness in the charge sheet by the police.

The doctor runs his clinic at Upper Govind Nagar, Malad East and Singh used to regularly visit his clinic to provide sanitisers and masks. The duo had met at Malad Medical Association where Singh was working as a clerk. On April 22, Singh provided the doctor with 38 vials of the Covishield vaccine to conduct a vaccination drive and charged Rs 4,250 per vial. Singh had brought all the vials from Shivam Hospital. After completion of the drive, Singh took back all empty vials and promised to provide vaccination certificates for all recipients. In all, the doctor paid Singh Rs 1,61,500 but never received the certificates.

390
No. of residents vaccinated at Hiranandani Heritage society, Kandivli