Mumbai Crime: 4 held for using fake coupons to get Covid-19 vaccines

Fake coupons were found at a civic-run centre at a school in Bhayandar West. Representational pic

The Bhayandar police have arrested four people on the charge of using fake coupons to receive vaccine shots at a civic-run vaccination centre. The four men said they paid between Rs 200 and R300 to an unknown person for the coupons.

The police said the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation had announced walk-in vaccination at Our Lady of Nazareth High School in Bhayandar West for Tuesday. Accordingly, coupons were distributed at 10 am and a seating arrangement was done for the citizens who were to receive the doses.

In their complaint to the police, MBMC officials said that as per their practice, each beneficiary is required to return the coupon before walking out of the premises. The idea is to ensure no repeat use of the coupons the same day, they told the police.

However, the staff came across four people who handed over coupons that had already been used. The four men said they had bought the coupons from a person outside the centre. "One person had purchased the coupon for Rs 200 and the other for Rs 300," said a police officer.

The police have identified the four as Brijesh Yadav, Mohammed Jamaluddin, Dixit Shah, and Bunty, the owner of Karma Hotel. "We are trying to find out who sold the fake coupons and whether these four were aware of the fraud," said a police

Tuesday
When the four were arrested